Posted on 06/06/2008 6:31:28 AM PDT by yankeedame
Updated 6:00pm 6/5/08
(WSB Radio) -- The umpire who was hit during a championship baseball game in Stephens County is cautiously reacting to the incident. David Scott told Channel Two Action News, "It came as a surprise, disbelief more than anything. I'd say the video pretty much speaks for itself. Other than that, I really don't have anything to say about it. I'm currently under a doctor's care and still waiting for all the results to be evaluated."
Scott's attorney says they're waiting for that medical evaluation to determine if they will take any legal action.
Earlier this week, the Georgia High School Association levied a $1,000 fine against the Stephens County high school and put the school's athletics program on severe warning status.
Stephens County Principal David Friend called the punishment "fair" and said he was very disappointed in his players’ behavior in the championship game.
The catcher in the incident, Matt Hill, had been invited to walk on for the Gordon College baseball team. The coach of that team has since rescinded the offer.
There is absolutely no way that is was not intentional.
I would say if it were little league maybe not, but it looked like the catcher was intentionally letting it hit the umpire.
bttt
I’m not sure I see what the problem is. When the ump agreed to ref the game, he knows that he can be beamed by the ball. That’s the chance he takes.
Good for the coach.
"Son, you're either afraid of the ball, or else you think it's funny to have the umpire get hit by the pitch. Either way, we don't want you on our team."
(Is there any way the Spurs can use this technique on a certain referee?)
Not sure why he rescinded, let the ball hit the ump on purpose or just being a crappy catcher?
Then I saw the following in the comments section. Obviously this guy knows the whole story (and it must be true or the internet wouldn't print it!)
Classless act This was a classless act by a couple of kids who think they are bigger than the game of baseball. From my understanding of the incident from people who were there, these players were upset about the pitcher's brother (shortstop) striking out on a called third strike in the previous inning. This was their way of retaliating against the umpire. It was a blatant act of revenge. When a pitcher and catcher get crossed up, rarely does it ever result in the catcher completely missing the ball.
For those who do not know, this pitch was probably somewhere in the 90 mile per hour range. This pitcher was drafted 15th overall in the draft that occurred yesterday so he is not simply a high school pitcher. He is a "kid" with major league talent and skills.
Kudos to the college that rescinded the catcher's offer. For a college who probably has coaches who have been around the game of baseball their entire lives (and seen pitcher/catcher cross-ups) to so quickly act the way they did should be enough to indicate this act was deliberate.
Did you watch the video at the source? The only worthwhile reason one could have for listening to the catcher's explanation would be to see how good a liar he is.
Intentional without a doubt. The only question is whether the pitcher was in on it.
Try to look at the signal from the catcher prior to the pitch....sure looked intentional to me in the video.
This reminds me of the South Park episode where the boys were trying to lose in a baseball tournament so they could enjoy their summer. The problem was that the other teams were better at losing then they were.
It was deliberate. Good on the college coach that rescinded his offer to let this delinquent play on his team.
Actually the kid who threw the pitch was his younger brother. Ethan was drafted by the Dodgers yesterday. His younger brother Cody was the pitcher in ths game.
He didn't agree to be a target. Being accidentally hit is one thing but being intentionally thrown at is another matter all together.
I had to spend two days in the hospital after being hit in the head by a baseball. It is plausible that the umpire is suffering medical issues as a result of being hit. In big league games when a batter is hit cleanly in the head by a fastball, the player is always taken out of the game and put under medical observation as a precaution. Why? Because a baseball can be lethal.
“He didn’t agree to be a target. Being accidentally hit is one thing but being intentionally thrown at is another matter all together.”
I understand what you’re saying. My only point is that the ump takes a chance stepping onto the field.
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