[cat86]

Absolute travesty of justice in the Prestonsburg Bethlehem All A classic game...

Very good game, with outstanding pitching performances by Bethlehem's pitcher and Prestonsburg's Adam Griffith, who had a no hitter through 5 innings.

Bethlehem was able to load the bases in the top of the 8th and push across a couple of runs for the win.

However, it should never have gotten that far...

With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 5th, Prestonsburg's Grant Anderson was on third and Bryson Williams on first, with Trey Stapleton at the place. Williams attempts to steal second, and when the catcher throws down, a tag attempt is made on Williams. The second base umpire called Williams safe when the Bethlehem shortstop had the ball, but lost it on the tag attempt. Anderson crossed the plate on the double steal to give Prestonsburg a 2-1 lead. Bethlehem's coach came out of the dugout to ask the umpire what the call was. Then the entire 4 man umpiring crew met for about 2 minutes, and the call was changed to "out", which was the third out of the inning, and took the run back off the board. Coach Simpkins from Prestonsburg immediately took to the field to protest and seek an explanation. When Simpkins asked who overturned the call, he was told by the second base ump that he himself overturned his own call. When Simpkins asked why, the ump told him that "that was my call...out". Simpkins asked if there was an attempt by the runner to intentionally knock the ball out of the Bethlehem players glove, and the umpire said "No". Simpkins then again asked why the call was changed, and the umpire repeated, "that was my call...out". When asked if the player dropped the ball, the umpire said, "yes". When then asked how he could possibly change the call to out, the umpire repeated again "that was my call...out". Ultimately, Simpkins was ejected from the game for arguing the call.

I usually try to give the umpires the benefit of the doubt in most situations. This however was absolutely an abomination that defied any description I have ever seen in a baseball game. The most troubling thing was that Simpkins was never given an explanation as to why the ump changed the call...only that it was the second base umpire's call and he overturned himself. No reason why...no runner interference, no aggressive contact to knock the ball loose, no attempt to say the fielder held onto the ball long enough (which he obviously did not). Just that the umpire who made the call "overturned himself". If that call is not changed, Prestonsburg wins the game 2-1 in 7 innings.

Prestonsburg fans went ballistic. Simpkins (fighting for his kids...and rightfully so) went ballistic. Heck even the TV crews filming the game went ballistic.

I know the 15th region umpires catch alot of flack...however, I would take the worst umpire in the 15th over any of those absolute idiots that called the game at Whittaker Bank Park today. If this is the best the KHSAA has, then we may as well fold baseball on the High School level in the state of KY.