There is simply no reason to call a balk in the final inning of a high school baseball championship (or any major baseball event) unless it is the most obvious balk in the history of balks. And yet, a group of California umpires decided to make the game about themselves over the weekend with an all-time awful call to ruin an exhilarating game.
It was a total ump show!
St. John Bosco hosted Bakersfield Christian on Saturday for the CIF Southern California Regional final. The Braves trailed 4-0 to start the fifth inning of a seven-inning game. They rallied to win 5-4.
Controversy struck during the bottom of the seventh. Bosco had two outs with nobody on. Third baseman Owen Stelzer knocked a single up the middle and moved over to third base when Macade Maxwell ripped a single of his own.
Runner on third, two outs, 4-4. Bakersfield Christian was called for a balk. Stelzer scored the winning run in very confusing walk-off fashion.
Let’s take a look at the controversial balk. Bakersfield head football coach Darren Carr shared a video that was captured by local videographer Edward Medellin.
Pitcher Cale Nielson’s right elbow barely fluttered as he settled into his ready position. Barely. There was very little movement, if any. That call most certainly shouldn’t have been made, especially in that moment. Bakersfield baseball coach Mark Ratekin would agree!
Unfortunately, the definition of a “balk” remains incredibly confusing. There is no consistency.
MLB says: “if a pitcher makes any sort of motion that mimics his or her normal delivery, and then stops before firing the pitch, that’s a balk.”
Beyond the minor elbow adjustment, Nielson didn’t make any kind of motion that mimics his normal delivery. It was called as a walk-off balk anyway.
The post Controversial Walk-Off Balk Spoils High School Baseball Championship With Absurd Ump Show appeared first on BroBible.
Controversial Walk-Off Balk Spoils High School Baseball Championship With Absurd Ump Show
Pinoy Human Rights
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