Little League Protest In Bridgeport, Wv

July 23, 2009

Jen Colvin

via email: [email protected]

Director, Southeastern Region Little League International

RE: Appeal of West Virginia State 10-11 Year –Old Little League Baseball Tournament / Semi-Final Game (Bridgeport v. South Charleston 7/22/2009) Dear Ms. Colvin: This letter is sent to protest an erroneous decision in the referenced West Virginia 1011 Little League Baseball Tournament. Bridgeport was denied the right to appeal a misinterpretation of a rule by the First Base Umpire, and does hereby request that the situation be remedied. In the semi-final game, which occurred on July 22, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. held in Dunbar, West Virginia in District 3, an erroneous and egregious call resulted from an umpire’s misinterpretation of a rule made against the Bridgeport team. The umpires were from District 3 and no outside umpires were invited and it should be noted that South Charleston is a representative from District 3. At the bottom of the 5th inning, South Charleston led the game 5-1. In the top of the 6th inning, as the visiting team, Bridgeport mounted a comeback, scoring 4 runs to tie the game at 5-5. Then Bridgeport player Dante Bonamico reached first base, and Elijah Drummond hit a home run out of the ballpark (his first ever). As he touched first base, the first base (eleven year old) player-coach enthusiastically touched both hands together (“double high-five”) with the runner. Bonamico advanced to home, followed by Drummond. This brought the score to 7-5 Bridgeport (with two outs). Both players touched each base on the path to home plate. After Drummond touched home base, the first base umpire (Tommy Lewis) came to the home plate and made the erroneous call “he hugged the runner, that’s assisting the runner. That’s the second time this has happened.1 The batter is out”. Upon questioning if the other run counted, Mr. Lewis replied “No--no runs count.” Bridgeport’s manager, Robert Marra, immediately protested the call to the umpire-in-chief. A conference was held among the four umpires, and then a representative of the District 3 staff was brought to the field. The staff member stated that this issue was not a “protestable call” and that they would not accept Bridgeport’s protest. 1

In fact, this was the first home run for Bridgeport in this game; if there had been previous incidents of player-coaches high-five celebrations, it was not on the Bridgeport team, as South Charleston had a prior home run in this game. The erroneous call was not enacted against South Charleston and no warnings were issued by this or any of the umpires to either team.

The group checked the Little League Rules and alleged that the contact constituted a violation of Rule 7.09 (Interference by a batter or runner). The umpire-in-chief and the District 3 staff stated that play will resume and no protest will be filed. Despite the fact that both runs had been placed on the score board and in the score book, Bridgeport was not allowed to continue batting and was charged with its third out, South Charleston went to bat, both Bonamico and Drummonds’ runs were removed, and the score was erroneously changed back to 5-5. Marra advised that Bridgeport was then playing the game under protest. The official stated again no protest would be accepted in the matter. At that point, Bridgeport felt there was no option but to resume play. It was a hostile environment that was clearly created to intimidate the Bridgeport team and fans. Officials made multiple threats of removing parents, our manager, our coach and our league president from the facility if anything else was said about the matter. Police officers were called to the park and particularly asked for the names of our manager and league president identifying them as the source of the trouble. The officers remained throughout the remainder of the game. They also prevented our manager and league president from any further contact with the umpires or officials. Play continued. Bridgeport held South Charleston to no runs. If the erroneous call had not been carried out, the game would have been won by Bridgeport (7-5). Because of this error, the score was tied at the end of regulation, 5-5. The game ended in the next inning with a score of 8-7 with South Charleston “winning.” As the umpires went to exit the field, Bridgeport’s Manager, Robert Marra, told each of the four umpires that he wanted to protest the game. The umpires indicated that his protest would not be accepted. It should also be noted that this particular umpire had officiated numerous games throughout the baseball tournament. Several homeruns were hit during various games with several exact and/or similar “high-five” and celebratory gestures between runners, coaches and player-coaches. No calls of interference, runner assistance or any other related calls or warnings were made. It was only in this semi-final game, after a significant rally and finally lead change by a team challenging the District 3 representative in the baseball tournament being officiated by District 3 umpires and specifically 3 of the 4 officials from the city of South Charleston did this issue come into play. Before leaving the field, Bridgeport’s Manager contacted various Little League officials throughout the state of West Virginia, who indicated that Bridgeport’s protest has to be accepted and provided Bridgeport with instructions for filing the protest. In support of this protest, note the following rule interpretations of Rule 7.09 (Little League Umpire School Rules Instruction Manual prepared for the 2007 Regional Little League Umpire Schools): 1. The Right Call Casebook-Play 7.14-The batter hits a home run with the bases full. Each runner who passes the third base coach is congratulated with a “high five” by the base coach. Ruling: No call. This is not assistance. (emphasis added). 2. Instructor comments: Giving a “high five” or patting a player on the back after a home run IS NOT PHYSICAL ASSISTANCE. Do not call the player out

for receiving a “high five” or congratulatory pat on the back in situations such as this. Furthermore on the Little League Website under Rule Interpretations: Rule 7.09 - It is interference by a batter or runner when - (i) in the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base, or first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists that runner in returning to or leaving third base or first base. Play - Batter crushes a belt high fast ball and clears the centerfield fence for a home run. While circling the bases the 3rd base coach gives the home run hitter a congratulatory high five. Should the umpire call the runner out for touching the 3rd base coach? Answer: As you can see by the wording above, it is NOT assisting the runner leaving third or returning to third, it is a happy moment and nothing should be done and certainly don’t call the runner out. It is a sad statement that the “officials” would penalize children (and teammates), who are jubilant about this momentous occasion. How many of you can remember your first home run? Did you receive a pat from a teammate along the way? This is the essence of teamwork.

Indeed, the logical explanation of this rule is to eliminate an advantage to the base runner. Physical assistance of a runner implies that this would give the runner an “edge” of some sort, by holding the runner up in the event of a ball in play, or pushing the runner in the event of an error. None of this is possible in this situation, as the ball is completely out of play (over the fence), and no “assistance” would affect the game one way or another.

According to the Rule 7.05, a batter may, without liability to be put out, advance to home base scoring a run, if a fair ball goes out of the playing field in flight and the runner touches all bases legally. Moreover, under Rule 7.09, if there had been a violation, then the umpire should call “time” and enforce the penalty. Once this is done, the runner is out and all other runners should return to the bases occupied at the time of the assistance. Because the umpire failed to make the erroneous call timely, Bonamico had already scored a run, and thus, even if this were a valid call, it was not made until the Bonamico run had scored which would have caused the Bonamico run to stand independent of the Drummond run. On a related note, a home run ball is considered a “dead ball” under Rule 5.02. The batter and all other runners should advance. This matter needs corrected and it needs corrected now. This is beyond an injustice, as it is not only procedurally wrong, but morally wrong. Eleven-year old children, at an impressionable age, are learning by example. Is this an example that Little League wants

to set? What about compassion, joy, teamwork? And not least of all, following and applying the rules. This was not done. Equity demands the following relief: The umpire’s erroneous call be reversed; The legally earned and scored runs be reinstated; Bridgeport be awarded the win, as South Charleston, who was not adversely affected nor disadvantaged in any way by the erroneous call, failed to score any runs in the bottom of the 6th inning. Bridgeport is willing to waive its rights to the third out in that inning, and leave the final score at 7-5. Bryan Spurlock, the President of the League in District 3 hosting the baseball tournament, Dunbar Little League, has agreed to delay the championship game scheduled for this evening, July 23, 2009, per your instruction. He may be reached at 304.546.9959. It appears that little time, nor thought is necessary because the rule is crystal clear. Any such interference call shall NOT be made when it is merely a “high five” for a home run hit. Please advise me of your decision on this matter today. You may reach me at 304.677.8087, Mr. Marra by cell phone at 304.669.1979 and Mr. Paul Smith (Bridgeport Little League President) at 304.290.8244. We appreciate your very prompt response. Very truly yours,

Bridget D. Furbee, Esquire

Cc:

Donna Haines-Administrator-District 5 (West Virginia) John Niewierowski-Administrator-District 3 (West Virginia) Robert Marra, Manager, Bridgeport 10-11 All Stars Paul Smith-President, Bridgeport Little League