Umpiring At NSA Chattanooga

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What is with the umps all of a sudden calling illegal pitches like crazy this week. DD has been call for 6 of them already this week. They keep stating that she is crowhopping.
She doesn't and never has. Has never been called since she started in 12u. Its not only her but in a game yesterday both pitchers got called twice. What is their reasoning with this all of a sudden, plus the strike zones have been miniscule. The way these umps are calling the games you might as well put a tee up and let them hit off of that. Let the girls play.

 

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Actually I think there more strict at nationals. Just shows umps should be calling it all the time at all levels. Not saying just Crow Hop but also leap. (No dragging foot)

 

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I worked for the NSA in '04 & '06. The umpires were told to call the rulebook. There were several girl's called for illegal pitches thru out the early part of the tournament. By the middle of the week, most of them had made the adjustment.

When I used to go to the state meeting for umpires, the UIC was adamant about illegal pitches being called consistantly thru out the year. Her thought was if it wasn't nipped in the bud early, the girls would eventually pay for it at Nationals.

 

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I think a lot of girls do crowhop and leap and get away with it all the time, so we are led to believe they aren't doing it. Its kind of like traveling in basketball anymore ... and we get mad when people call the game the right way. Most of it is not too blatant, but it happens and it is difficult to correct the muscle memory.

 

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I know the difference between a legal pitch and a crowhop or leap, she does neither. These umps down here are calling it after the opposing coach whines because dd is racking up Ks. And that has been a chore with the miniscule strike zone they are giving her.

Also I need a ruling from bretman, at the pitching rubber after 3 or 4 games there is the big hole in front of the rubber, if the toe remains below the plain of the rest of the area, meaning toe is in the hole but not neccessarily touching the bottom is it still a legal pitch. My guess is yes?

 

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Yeah, if there is a hole or uneven ground in front of the pitcher's plate, as long as the "drag" foot stays level with the top plane of the rubber an illegal pitch shouldn't be called. In other words, you don't force the pitcher to drag her foot down into the bottom of the hole then come back up on the other side.

 

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At 14u down here the umpiring has been pretty stellar. Very consistent strike zones, loud calls (for clarity), hustling .... and pretty friendly. Very impressed with the Summit facility also!

RE: Crow hopping .... We were warned by an Ump that it was very close and "could" be called, and it will be if obvious, but they were going to call it unless it was obvious. They have said this to several pitchers that were close (in their motion).

 

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Pickle,
How are you guys doing down there?

 

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Does anyone know all the teams that are down there ?

 

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Thanks Bretman, I knew you would have the answer, Up until this week I felt the umping had been fantastic. They are blowing calls left and right, had a home plate ump come over and say the base ump blew the call but he wasn't going to over rule him. This is just nuts.

 

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I know these have been on here before, but lets look at them again....

Crow Hop...
http://www.nfhs.org/core/contentmanager/uploads/video/sb/SB_CrowHop.wmv

Leap...
http://www.nfhs.org/core/contentmanager/uploads/video/sb/SB_Leap.wmv

Legal Drag...
http://www.nfhs.org/core/contentmanager/uploads/video/sb/SB_Legal_drag.wmv

 

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Sapphires won another game in bracket play this morning. Sapphires are now in the elite eight in winners bracket right now. More games this afternoon.

 

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Go get em!!

 

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Hey Bill,

Long day at the field today.

Three wins including a double-ITB win over Indy Shockwaves, got us into Winners's Bracket Final. Lost in that game, awaiting the survivor of Loser's bracket for the right to get revenge on the Mustangs.

Worst case scenario .... THIRD PLACE!

Tired short roster of 10 players tonight, plus a few banged up kids. Will do our best to make some more noise. So proud of these ladies battling back versus some very strong teams in battling to the end of this thing.

In eight tournaments since we formed this team last fall, we have played in the championship game of EVERY tournament, including several 16u, except Stingrays where Laser Red got us in Semi - we plan to play in this championship game also ..... after some nourishment and some sleep ..... 12+ hours at the ball park today .....

 

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I think I can speak for the rest of Ohio and say how proud we are of you guys!! It's great to see an Ohio team so well against the best teams in the country, especially when they are a team so close to our home. Go Sapphires!! Bring it home!!!

 

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we had an opposing pitcher that started her movement with only 1 foot on the mound and another game with girl crow hopping,, ump would call 1 illegal pitch 1st pitch of inning and that was it,, his comment was that "he wasn't here to put on a clinic" i was dumbfounded,, my DD works hard as a pitcher to do it the right way and some girls get to slide by,,, pdad7

p.s.- this was at the 12u level