High school baseball game ends in 65-0 'travesty' - - Sporting News

The game ended in a travesty, yes. But it could have been worse.

This is not only a problem in HS ball, it is a HUGE issue in travel baseball and softball.

The talent disparity that leads to these results is first on the agenda and then who does what to whom in order to NOT have the games turn into this type of travesty after the fact, where NOBODY WINS.


from the Sporting News:
High school baseball game ends in 65-0 'travesty' - - Sporting News:

Boyer told Sporting News the game took more than three hours and finally was called because of darkness. The Ohio High School Athletic Association calls for a 10-run mercy rule after five innings. Boyer wishes the game would've been called much sooner.

"We didn't run on passed balls; we didn't take extra bases or any of those kinds of things," Boyer said. "I even asked the umpire, 'What do you want us to do?'

"I asked if he wanted us to bunt and step on the plate, and he said he didn't want it to be a travesty of a game. And I'm thinking, 'We're already there.' "

'via Blog this'


Apparently, we still have not figured it out. Seriously, how bad is it and how undeniable is the problem when a team doesn't feel good -- actually feels pretty crappy -- after a VICTORY?

Somebody has to explain that equation to me and I'm considered about as old-school as it gets.

In many games, coaches DO mercifully give up outs (as apparently happened here). Generally, when I see that from a coach, I feel like I have carte-blanche to make further adjustments to the strike zone and potential safe / out calls to further tamp down the carnage. Problem is, sometimes players take that as a  hitting challenge and then the ball ( and the influence of the call ) never gets back to me again. Trust me, it happens. Then it's Katy, bar the door!!


More gory details from the story:

Boyer's Hornets beat Harvest Prep 65-0 on April 5 in a game called in the third inning. Licking Heights scored 16 runs in the first, 18 in the second and 31 in the third.

 The numbers are predictably off the charts. Licking Heights had 48 hits, but the team also drew 13 walks and had 11 hit batters against a Harvest Prep team composed of mostly freshmen and sophomores.

Some are of the opinion that it's disrespectful to pull on the reins in this fashion, even during 20-0, 30-0 or more debacles. Their standing on principle you see. And some old-school or whatever-it-is umpires and fans agree with them.

Softball runners leave the base early, giving the umpire an easy out call. Or they bunt their way into outs or step out of the box and hit the ball, again giving the umpire an easy out call.

In baseball, apparently not so easy.

And some umpires can ( if they wish ) adjust the brakes via the strike zone, but woe from the parent who's AB that umpire is "robbing" from.

And yes, many times this occurs in the middle of these 30-0 ( or more ) spectacles.

And yes, this is where hard feelings come from.
And worse beatings are administered then those previously administered simply to the ego.
And that has to stop.

But until we figure it out, you will continue to read these type of stories.
Some will have happier endings than others.

And you will continue to read about them until we figure it out.
And it shouldn't really be that hard.