Video title speaks for itself, you make the call. Ejected?
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO5l4J6TRkE

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Is this a trick question? :)

Oh yeah, she would have been gone

The first one I would bet the plate ump didn't see he was moving toward 3rd, but he was looming right at the 2nd one and did nothing.

This is why I have a problem with umpires who do not believe it is necessary to watch runners touch a base when there is no play.

I could not agree with you more.

MTD, Sr.

What the old white guy said....

Great job of the base runner keeping her cool. That would have been a classic case of seeing the retaliation only.

Especially with that long pony tail just hanging there begging to be yanked! :)

Worst part of it is that it seems to be a sectional game of some kind! Hopefully there was some kind of state/local officials there to ream this guys butt afterward....

Texas 4a state championship game. There is another video of game highlights showing another player for blue team doing a takeout slide of the catcher.

Holy crap... obvious ejection on both. I'm embarrassed for that umpire.

I assume you mean for both shoulder slams... because if you see the video RKBUmp refers to, you'll see their offense in action as well.

Serious sportsmanship issues to be addressed in that program...

I see just the two shoulder slams. I see no video of their offense here.

http://vype.com/setx/2015/06/06/huff...uers-4a-title/

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around the :35 second mark... same teams (likely same game)
PU doesn't seem to like to pull the trigger.
Or, doesn't recognize USC when he sees it.

Fixed your link.

Obstruction, and ejection. Easy call. Gotta keep your eyes on the scoring runner even if there is no chance for the defense to make the out.

Looks like it was force play and unecessary contact by R3, I imagine there could be a case made for interference and bang the BR at first base as well if it looked like F2 was trying to make a throw.

Is that the correct out when we have INT by a runner already declared out? ;)

We have a few of that type of official in my area. They seem to be afraid to create any controversy. Then, before they know it, the game is reeling out of control. One guy also does football (which I do not do) and I asked him seriously one time if he had EVER thrown a flag. Never did get a legitimate reply.

If they're just going out there to go through the motions and get their $x.yy, they're providing a dis-service.

In my opinion the slide was enough to get the runner ejected. That was an intentional act to take out the catcher with the dirty slide. I would very likely consider that malicious contact and eject the runner for that act.

The two elbows from the catcher are 100% inexcusable to miss. I looked closely at the video and this is a three umpire system. I don't do much 3 man, but the one thing I do remember is that home plate should always be covered and observed in a 3 man system. (or two man for that matter). I am still not sure the umpire didn't see the first elbow that was thrown and I know darn well he saw the second one unless he was one of the three blind mice.

This was a complete and total miss by the umpire working the plate that the catcher was able to finish the game and wasn't tossed. I am actually a bit shocked I saw the offensive coach still in the 3b box after the second one. I likely would have been tossed for arguing that non-call in an effort to protect my players from obviously dirty play.

Even in a 1 umpire system a play like that should be seen most of the time. The only time I can see missing contact like that at the plate is if there is another play happening at the same time at another base. Totally inexcusable by the umpire to not eject the catcher from that game.

I'm just stunned that a state finals level umpire allowed that play on his field twice.The offensive team's 3rd base coach showed an awful lot of restraint as chapmaja stated.Can't imagine the UIL will let him work the plate again anytime soon in a final after that one.

Ok, I think well all seem to agree that the catcher should have been tossed on these plays.

Now, onto the umpiring part of the discuss, rather than the rules aspect.

3 umpire crew, runners on 2nd and 3rd. BU1 is by second base, BU2 is behind third base. Base hit to the outfield, left field side.

What are the responsibilities of each umpire on these play.

First, on either of these would the base umpire by 3rd go out? I can't tell if they did on the first play, but neither did on the second play.

Second, on the second play, the BU at third seems to be in the same place the entire time, and has not moved from his position. He has watched the runner touch third and go home. What should he be looking at now? There is no play coming to third base. Based on the video I have to think he saw the contact at the plate.

Can the BU make the call on this even if the PU did not? Can the coach ask the PU to check with his partners on a situation like that?

I know this is one of those things that is not in the umpires jurisdiction, but we are not talking about a safe or out call here, we are talking about the possibility of ejecting someone for malicious contact?

That is the same game, and the same PU. And sadly, I must concur with your assessment of him.

With multiple runners in the three umpire system, and no umpires chases, the umpires will not rotate. PU has home, U1 has first and second, U3 has third. U3 in this situation may not have to move more than a few steps from his starting position. If there is no play at third, then U3 should direct his eyes to any other potential plays on the field to be an extra set of eyes.

This particular play was so blatant and egregious, that I would expect U3, if he saw it, to came in and make the call after it became obvious that PU did not see it.

... and now spread all over the internet. So, I was wondering... has there been any blow-back in the media or among other high school parents, etc., against this school, demanding some kind of discipline? Has the school's administration even acknowledged anything happened?

(Andy, I just used your post as the setup to my question. The question is really directed to any Texas umpires or others with knowledge of the situation.)

I did see the earlier video of the blue uniform catcher getting her legs intentionaly taking out on the force play at the plate with no call.
The elbows that later came at the plate was certainatly retaliation for her getting legs taken out earlier in the game.
Some athletes take contact a little more personal and not just ignored as part of the game. Call it and at least talk and warn.
Haven't seen all the video, but on the first elbow, I'll assume U1 was counter rotated and U3 chased.
C has responsibility for touch at the plate and all other plays at 3rd and home.
Weve all had one or two weve missed, but those are the type of infraction that could of resulted in some serious injury and liability.

They aren't retaliation. The same team committed all three acts. The blue team was on offense when the catcher's legs were taken out on the force. The blue team was on defense when the catcher gave the elbows.

Whoops, I missed that! Thx.
I did read report on a news website site, that a witness to the game indicated it was retaliation from a prior play, obvisouly it wasn't one of those three play.

She was one of Olbermann's Worse/Worser/Worst yesterday - as the Worser....

And he was nice enough not to give out her name - shes only a Junior....

I watched a replay of the entire game yesterday and there was nothing done out of the ordinary by the black team to retaliate for. There were a couple of steal attempts at 2nd where F6 got slid into, but nothing malicious about the slide and F6 was putting her foot in front of the base before she had the ball. Borderline obstruction with the ball getting there just a fraction before the runner.

But, being as it was a replay it was edited and nothing of the 2 knockdowns was ever shown other than just the general play. I have read the umpire did talk to the blue team coach after the black teams coach pitched a fit but none of that was on the replay.

Careful about umpire assignments. This is a four-umpire crew. See the clip at about 0:22.

Wow talked to the coach. The conversation should have been "You need to get a new catcher suited up"

Which makes missing those plays WORSE, if at all possible...

This catcher already has a college softball scholarship lined up it seems.

If that program had any integrity, she'd be looking for a new place to play about now.

As for the umpiring -- what's the mechanic for 4-man (knowing that no real softball actually does 4-man)? Would U2 chase, U3 cover second, the PU cover third, and U1 cover the plate? That would be the baseball rotation when U2 goes out, but I know nothing about softball, having not umpired a softball game since the late 90s.

Well, I know that's a cheap shot (actually, two) by the catcher.

To my knowledge, ISF (International) is the only softball organization with current 4 umpire mechanics. In that, U2 chases the "V"; if chased, yes, U3 to 2nd, PU to 3rd, U1 to plate.

Oh, I dunno... she'd fit right in at UT! (ducks and runs for cover...) :D

True words.

Sports talk radio this morning in Phila, discussed negatively about 5 minutes in the "weasel of the week" segment.

I didn't see that until I slow motioned the video. You are correct. That honestly makes it that much worse that 4 umpires on the field all allowed this completely unsportsmanlike and malicious act to occur.

From what I heard, she is (maybe was) a verbal to Sam Houston St. I can't confirm that as it came from another board. Either way I would be taking a serious look at her and how she fits with the values of my program if I was a coach. Thankfully for the school, as a verbal commitment there is no obligation on either party to follow through. Hopefully this catcher learns a lesson from this and doesn't become another Jayru Campbell.

For those who don't know the Jayru Campbell story. He was offered a scholarship to play QB at MSU very early after leading Detroit Cass Tech to a couple state titles. He punched a player for Detroit Catholic Central in the handshake line after the state title game and IIRC was suspended one game or two. He then went on to body slam a security guard at the school who tried getting him to remove his hoody in school. He was arrested and spent several months in jail. When he was released he was immediately reinstated at Cass Tech (in violation of Michigan State Law). On his first day back he got into an altercation with his girl friend and was arrested for domestic violence in the school. MSU pulled his scholarship offer and now he may be headed to the New Mexico Military Institute. Hopefully they can straighten him out. They do have a history of QB success as they also produced a young man by the name of Roger Staubach, who later won a Heisman Trophy at Navy.

It took three instances of being a dirt-bag and jail time before MSU decided to pull the offer?

That tells me just as much about MSU's lack of integrity as it does the player's.

Actually I think the scholarship was pulled after the body slamming incident. The Domestic Violence at the school occurred after the scholarship was pulled, but I'm sure it really turned off a lot of programs who are more dirtbagish than MSU and there are some (I'm a Michigan fan).

I think it is cute that anyone believes that the American attention span would last long enough that this incident will be remembered in a year when this girl can sign her actual letter of intent.

I is also cute that we, the people involved in the sport, think that there is as much attention paid to our sport as we think there is.

In a year, this girl will be sitting in the third row of athletes behind a table signing her letter with a bunch of , Football, and basketball players in the spot light and no one will even know who she is, let alone what she did in a game on the internet during two plays.

It depends. Seeing it now may get her crossed off a list of possible recruits at some schools. OTOH, if someone in the sport was hiding under a rock for the past two weeks and did not see this, it wouldn't matter

Been telling the carrot chasers and "my daughter is going to play in the Olympics group this for years. It is a much smaller world than many of those in the sport realize, however this incident was covered by media outside the sport which certainly doesn't help.

Well, I doubt that since they don't necessarily share the same dates.

This was in the local paper concerning the player:

After a video of her apparently elbowing opponents went viral this week, catcher Megan Crosby has been disciplined by the Needville Independent School District.

Crosby's penalty wasn't specified, but Needville ISD superintendent Curt Rhodes said disciplinary action has been taken against Crosby, who just completed her junior year, for her actions during the Class 4A softball final against Huffman Hargrave. Huffman won the game 6-4.

"This action, which is two isolated incidents, is truly out of her character. We do not support the action, but she is a great young lady,” Rhodes said in a statement. “We strongly support our students and coaches; they are very talented, dedicated people.”

Neither school district has contacted the UIL as far as seeking any sort of punishment. Rhodes did notify the league however, to inform officials of the statement he released.

Rhodes said Crosby has received hate-filled communications and even threats.

So, even the superintendent of schools does not understand sportsmanship.

She did this twice in the same game. These were not "two isolated incidents". (The very phrase is an oxymoron.)

As the late Haywood Hale Broun said, (OK, you know what he said...). This catcher's character was sufficiently revealed.

Well, I doubt that since they don't necessarily share the same dates.[/QUOTE]

Whether the dates are the same or not, the point I was trying to make will be the same.

I have a few comments on this.

First, in regards to the quote from the superintendent of the district. "This action, which is two isolated incidents, is truly out of her character. We do not support the action, but she is a great young lady,”

It would not shock me one bit if off the softball diamond she is a great person. I have known a lot of people who in non-competitive situations were great people, but when they were out on that field or court, they became completely different people. It was part of what made them successful, but at the same time, they risked doing something that everyone would see as a dirty play. Some of my best friends were not the cleanest players in their sport. Would they intentionally hurt someone? No, but at the same time, if you left a bit bruised and battered, they were not disappointed. I suspect this young lady is very similar. Off the field she is a nice person, on the field she is a b. The old saying nice guys finish last does have some validity. It takes some fire to be successful and she crossed the line and deserved to be ejected and punished for her actions.

Now, onto the second portion of the article.

"Rhodes said Crosby has received hate-filled communications and even threats." I have a much bigger issue with this than I do with the inaction of the umpires or the stupid decision making of the catcher, or the fact I think this came from the coach, as there was the dirty slide by another member of the team as well.

These threats were not coming from other teenagers, many were coming from adults from what I've heard. Yes her actions were stupid, but do they deserve threats from adults that have required the police to be called to the family home on multiple occasions? I don't think so. I'm not so sure who had the more childish actions here, the catcher or some adults who have acted much stupider.

I wouldn't call the threats childish, but stupid, reckless, idiotic, even criminal...

I don't think there is any comparison between the unsporting act on the field and making the reported threats. Some people need to get a grip.

Being a great person when there is nothing at stake shows little about character. Character is revealed when there is something at risk. She did this twice in the same game in the same circumstances. Clearly, this was not a heat of the moment or heat of the competition act. It was simply a dirty act done when she thought she could get away with it.

She screwed up. Give her a break.

If it was one time, I would. Twice shows premeditation. That doesn't deserve any kind of break, in my mind.

Not at all. Deliberate actions require accountability.

Rita