Game 1:
Stoeth 5, Hewes 2
Laura Stoeth (4-0) tossed a 4-hitter backed by Ed O'Connor's batting (3-for-3, solo HR). Her team scored 3 times in the first and never looked back, capped by Paul Geoghan's 2-run single following a semi-intentional walk to Bill McLaughlin.
Game 2:
Melendez 6, Nilva 3
Freddy Melendez (4-4) scattered 11 hits and lowered his league-leading ERA to 3.43. Glen Lawrence had an excellent day at the plate (4-for-4, 2B, 3B, 3 runs, 2 RBI). Dave Sommers went 4-for-4 for Nilva's team, and Ed O'Connor was 2-for-4 with his second HR of the day, and 2 RBI. Nilva's hard-luck streak, temporarily broken with a win over Havelock, resumed today. He had pitched most of the way out of a 7th inning jam when Ian Parfrey hit a soft line drive to SS Phil Ciccone, who caught and then dropped the ball. It was ruled a catch, though in the resulting confusion, the defensive team 1) tried to double Glen Lawrence off of third, where he was safe; 2) tried to double Alex Rivera off of first, claiming he had never returned to the bag; 3) allowed Lawrence to sneak in with the 5th run in the ensuing argument; 4) allowed Alex Rivera to score all the way from first as the argument continued and home plate was left unguarded.
As this play, and a similar David Cone meltdown from the early 90s Mets both prove, it is best to call time out before arguing, or at least to guard the bases ahead of the runners.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
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2 comments:
As the umpire at the time I want to explain my observations. The author's description was accurate as far as it went. The catch in my view was made, it appeared to me the ball was dropped in the exchange. The following throws to double off the runners were met with howls that Alex never tagged-up. He did, I watched him, you have to watch Alex as player and as an ump. The ruckus following I am sure muted my initial I felt, uncontroversial call of "out" on the catch. The next beef was not that Alex did not tag up but that Phil never really caught the ball. Maybe not, but an intentional drop by a fielder in a 1 umpire game must be made quickly and obvious, not by taking a couple of steps toward the base and conveniently dropping ball just where you want it to be. It is like the forward fumble rule. The final point by the wrap-up writer is exactly right as well. I hate to see a game end on a bad note. If 10 guys are yelling at an ump that truly wants to make an accurate call and apply the rules of softball properly, you are wasting your breath. If one man (the captain) could represent the team and present his case to the ump, you will get a much more willing listener.
As the captain of the fielding team (located in left field during all this action, I did not feel the need to speak with the umpire, as he made the correct call. I did have a word for my infielders who should have tagged all the gallupers.
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