The Road to Boyle

Little League International has a strange habit of not posting press releases to its media page if it’s an issue that may make the organization look bad. Instead, they post things like this within their Facebook discussion boards about the illegal use of video replay to overturn an umpire’s on-field call Saturday during Fairfield American’s 1-0 win over Rhode Island:

To all: As stated earlier, the umpire at a Little League Baseball Mid-Atlantic Regional game requested assistance on a call. The assistance was provided, based on the slow-motion view of a video replay as seen by the Assistant Regino (sic) Director.

Here is a statement from Steve Keener, President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League International regarding the incident:

“There are elements of this that have been reported inaccurately; however it does not change the fact that a television replay was used to help an umpire make the correct call and that shouldn’t have happened.

“Eastern Region Director Don Soucy, who was not present in the press box at the time, now understands, as confirmed by Assistant Director Corey Wright, that Mr. Wright was not directed by me to order a call be reversed by the home plate umpire. My only comments to Mr. Wright in the press box, after seeing the replay were, ‘I hope he asks for help with this one.’

“Mr. Wright, as he will attest, called the umpire supervisor via radio while on his way to that area and said, ‘I can help if needed.’ Mr. Wright, who was proceeding to the scoring area while the umpires conferred on the field (who upheld the call of the home plate umpire), told the home plate umpire he could help. The umpire told him that he just wanted to get the call correct.

“Mr. Wright told the umpire ‘It’s your call, but I can help if you need it.’

“The umpire again said he wanted to get the call correct and Mr. Wright proceeded to advise the plate umpire that the ball did hit the batters foot.

“Those are the facts. Should that have happened? No, but it did.

“As President of Little League International, the responsibility for this rests with me, not Corey Wright or Don Soucy, both valued employees of Little League International. A television replay should not have been used at a regional game to assist the field umpires despite an honest effort by a good man to help correct an obvious wrong.”

Stephen D. Keener
President and Chief Executive Officer
Little League Baseball and Softball

By the way, if you haven’t followed the initial blog post or the follow-up, the issue goes well beyond whether or not Fairfield American could have been screwed out of a spot in the Little League World Series.

It’s about doing the right thing, playing by the rules, and acting with integrity. Little League was 0-for-3 on Saturday. This is an organization that takes pride in shaping young men, building character and whatnot, and it instead tried to show that if you’re above the law, you can make up rules as you go along. And if you get caught, you can try to spin the story your way and come out smelling like roses.

You know what they plant roses in, right?

Here’s some video, BTW, that backs up what I have written (since Keener called me out for alleged inaccurate reporting). You can see between the 1:30 and 1:40 mark of the first video that home plate umpire Tim Hughes is a little ticked at Wright for telling him to reverse the call.

The second video shows Rhode Island batter Josh Broudeur being awarded first base. And you can also hear Fairfield American coach Larry Klein yell to the umpire that replay is not allowed.

Little League kept its promise. It said it would release a statement about the instant replay incident that took place Saturday during the sixth inning of the New England Regional Championship Game between Fairfield American and Cumberland (RI) National.

Little League had to react after the use of instant replay to reverse a call was used. That’s okay in Williamsport, but not in the regional championship series. And the fans on message boards and Facebook let Little League know their reaction was wrong.

The account e-mailed to me this afternoon by Little League International does not match what I witnessed from the press box on Saturday, or what I saw when I played it back on my DVR. That account can be found here. Little League International’s spin is below:

In the sixth inning, an inside pitch was ruled by the Umpire-in-Chief (Plate Umpire) as a ball. The batter reacted as if the ball had struck his foot. The offensive team’s manager properly requested that other umpires be consulted to determine if the pitch hit the batter.

While the umpires were meeting, Corey Wright (the Assistant Tournament Director at the game, and the Eastern Region Assistant Director) and Mike Lantierre (the volunteer Umpire Consultant for that game), watched ESPN’s replay from separate locations, and it appeared to both of them that the ball did indeed hit the batter.

After consulting with the other umpires on the field, it was determined that none of the umpires could conclusively say the ball hit the batter. However, the plate umpire was still not sure the correct call was made, and he asked Mr. Wright and Mr. Lantierre if they could offer any assistance.

While such a request is unorthodox, it is not unique and did not violate any rule or regulation. Another more common example of such an inquiry is when the Umpire-in-Chief of a game requests assistance from a league or tournament official on the status or an approaching storm. While the ultimate decision in that case – and regarding the incident on the field described above – rests solely with the umpire, there is nothing in Little League Rules or Regulations that prevents an umpire from requesting assistance from a game official. (There is, however, a prohibition against “mingling” with spectators, which would prevent an umpire from seeking assistance from a fan at the game.)

Mr. Wright and Mr. Lantierre stressed to the Umpire-in-Chief that the call was ultimately his alone to make, but that it appeared to them that the batter was hit by the pitch. The umpire replied that it was important to make the correct call, so he ruled that the pitch hit the batter, awarding the batter first base.

Mr. Wright and Mr. Lantierre, as game officials, did not attempt to overrule the umpires on the field, nor were they instructed to do so. They merely offered assistance to the Umpire-in-Chief when requested to do so.

– Little League International Communications Division

Little League’s administration tries its best to do right by the kids who play the game. But a controversial call made in the sixth inning of last night’s Fairfield American-Cumberland National New England Regional Final could have changed the Connecticut State Champions’ course of history.

While the method used to award Cumberland shortstop Josh Broudeur first base after he was apparently hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the sixth is still not clear, it definitely was made by assistant tournament director Corey Wright after a conversation with home plate umpire Tim Hughes.

Here’s the scenario. Fairfield American starter Nick Nardone’s delivery bounced in the batter’s box and may or may not have hit left-handed batter Broudeur’s front foot and bounced into the glove of catcher Connor Daley.

Broudeur trotted to first base, but was called back by umpire Hughes, who’s view was apparently blocked by Daley. In the crowded press box, you could hear ESPN commentator Bobby Valentine tell broadcast partner Karl Ravech that Broudeur “didn’t sell it,” and may have thought all 7,894 spectators at Breen Field saw the pitch hit his foot.

After a discussion with the Cumberland National coaches and umpires Sherman Wallen, David Winning and Joe Smith, Broudeur was sent back to the batter’s box.

As that discussion took place, Wright was in the press box on his walkie talkie, and told someone to let the umpires know they had the jurisdiction to overrule them. And as Broudeur headed back to the batter’s box, Wright made a mad dash down the press box steps and had his own discussion with Hughes.

Moments later, Hughes called Broudeur over, crouched to Broudeur’s level, and pointed to first base.

Wright may have thought he was doing the right thing, but as Valentine pointed out in the broadcast, instant replay may not be used to overturn a call at the regional level – only in Williamsport.

Instant replay has been used in Williamsport to overturn dead-ball plays since 2008, but this is the first year it will be used at the World Series level to determine whether a batter was hit by a pitch. Though the game was televised, instant replay is not used at the regional championship level.

Also, a reversal of an umpire’s call is not within Wright’s jurisdiction as the assistant district administrator.

The call is a hot topic on Little League’s Facebook page, with several fans questioning the reversed call. Little League baseball commented on its page that it will issue a statement on Monday.

By the way, though the call did not determine the outcome of the game, it made Broudeur the potential game-winning run in the event of a walk-off hit or walk-off walk that inning. That could have sent Fairfield American back home for the summer, and the kids from Cumberland off to Williamsport.

My brother, Jim, called me three times last Sunday, Aug. 1. He saw my byline in the Connecticut Post, the morning after Fairfield American run-ruled Madison in game one of the Connecticut Little league Championship Series. So the thought I was there for Game 2, which sent the team to Bristol and the New England Regionals.

Jim was a volunteer coach for Fairfield American a few years back, when his sons, Matt and Jeff, were Little Leaguers. Even though his younger son last played for Fairfield American five years ago, he was excited to hear Fairfield American advanced to Bristol, and proud of everyone involved with the program.

Just a few hours after Fairfield American advanced, my brother died of an apparent aneurysm. He was just 55.

I can only imagine how thrilled and excited he’d be to know Fairfield American is now heading to Williamsport, representing New England as the regional champion.

I have a feeling he’s watching, and doing something to help Fairfield American out. He must have arrived in Heaven during the bottom of the third inning last Saturday, when Fairfield American came back to edge Vermont 7-4 and get its first pool play win.

And I have a feeling he was helping out tonight, when Rhode Island third baseman Mike Bogolawski’s deep drive to center instead fell into the glove of outfielder Chris Howell at the warning track. Or to help Fairfield American third baseman Tommy Ryan’s drive to left sail over the left field fence for the margin of victory.

Hey, I can believe, right? I believe my brother would be proud.

The earthquake relief efforts may be thousands of miles away, but the tragedy has hit home in the FCIAC football community.

Several FCIAC schools have significant Haitian populations: The schools in Bridgeport, Norwalk and Stamford stand out. I asked Stamford head coach Kevin Jones how his team is doing, and he said it’s been a hard time for quite a few of the students in the school. As of Wednesday, several students were still waiting to hear from family in and around Port-au-Prince.

And everyone is doing their part, Jones said. The student body has raised nearly $3,000 for the relief efforts

Jones also said former offensive tackle Vladimir Ducasse, who is a projected third-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft, has heard from his father, step-mother, sister and brother, and that the family is safe. Ducasse’s father sent Vladimir and his brother to the United States to live when they were teenagers.

Ducasse was able to donate 20,000 cases of Vitamin Water to the relief efforts, Jones said. Today, Ducasse told Boston Herald that he plans to use his status as an NFL draft pick to be to not only help out his homeland, but to encourage others to do the same:

“I’m excited about the Senior Bowl,” Ducasse said. “I’m excited about the NFL combine. I’m excited about getting drafted and playing in the NFL. At the same time, I have weight on my shoulders because I feel I have to do something to help out back home.

“That’s always on my mind,” he said. “I want to be able to donate money. I want to speak out. I want to do my part. Right now, I want to use my role to tell people to help send food, clothes, money. This is all very important.

“If all goes as planned,” he said, “I’ll have the ability to do those things.”

Bassick was also hit hard: Head coach Frank Marcuccio said six kids on the soccer team, eight on his team and three on the girls basketball team were awaiting word as of Wednesday.

Later that day, Jordan Claude, a senior All-FCIAC lineman and all-league shot-putter on the track team, got the word he hoped not to hear. His father was among the dead.

Bassick, too, has been encouraging its students to give what they can to the relief efforts. The school was collecting for American Red Cross.

Central head coach Dave Cadelina said a freshman player lost family members. Pete Tucci of Norwalk said members of the 2009 team were not affected, though he hadn’t heard about his players from the 2008 team. McMahon athletic director Joe Madaffari said his school, too, is involved in helping the relief efforts.

How you can help
The FCIAC Football Blog was going to work with its long-time Fairfield County High School Football Player of the Week sponsor, BlueStreak Sports Training, to organize a blood drive, figuring that would be the next logical step for the recovery efforts.

But BlueStreak president Matt Cole was informed they are booked solid through June.

American Red Cross’s suggestion: They want businesses to spread the word about locations and times of blood drives. You can find them here: http://www.redcrossblood.org/ct.

There may be five regional teams competing for state championships on the field this Saturday, but the Bassick Lions are in a battle for a national title online.

This is one of 10 finalists in the State Farm Friday Night Feats video contest on YouTube. If the video of its last-second win over city rival Harding receives the most ratings, the Bassick football program will win the $15,000 grand prize.

Now the teams competing in CIAC finals on Saturday have to win on their own, but Bassick needs the public’s help. Please click on the below video (which will brink you to YouTube) and rate the video. Again, Bassick will win if it gets the most ratings.

Heck, it’s only going to take a minute out of your day, and will help your neighbor out.

Voting has begun, and runs through Dec. 10.

Here’s the press release that was issued Tuesday through PRNewswire.com:

State Farm today announced the 10 finalists of the Friday Night Feats high school football video contest on YouTube. The contest highlights the biggest moments from this year’s high school football season – big hits, Hail Marys, break-away runs and miracle finishes – as voted by the fans themselves. A panel of judges selected the finalists from the 51 videos fans voted as Zone winners. Viewers will choose the grand prize winner by voting for their favorite video on YouTube between Dec. 3 and Dec. 10.

“The Friday Night Feats contest has captured some of the biggest moments in high school football – from early season match-ups all the way through the playoffs,” said Hall of Fame lineman and Friday Night Feats judge Anthony Munoz. “State Farm is excited to be there for the all of the schools who have participated this year. Now it is the fans’ turn to be there for their schools as they vie for the grand prize of $15,000.”

Friday Night Feats Finalists

• Summerville High School (Summerville, SC) – “SHS Football #3 Safety Punt Return”
• Roland High School (Roland, OK) – “Air Ranger”
• Broken Arrow High School (Broken Arrow, OK) – “2009 Friday Night Feats – Ronnie Price Broken Arrow High School – Hurdles Over Defender”
• Mountain View High School (Mesa, AZ) – “MV Bounce Pass”
• Mount Mansfield Union High School (Jericho, VT) – “Greatest or Worst play in football history depending on your side”
• Bassick High School (Bridgeport, CT) – “The Final Play”
• Gray’s Creek High School (Hope Mills, NC) – “Gray’s Creek Bears – Devonte Cooley LEAP”
• High School (DeLand, FL) – “Deland Bulldogs Shontrelle Johnson TD run vs Wekiva Mustangs”
• Bastrop High School (Bastrop, TX) – “Bastrop’s Josiah Monroe to Auston Shipley”
• Rockdale High School (Rockdale, TX) – “Rockdale Tiger Football – Sanders to Wright Hail Mary 2009″

Joining Munoz on the Friday Night Feats judging panel were Scout.com Recruiting Experts Scott Kennedy, Steve Robertson and Brandon Huffman, as well as Kid Reporter Daniel Radov from SIKids.com. The panel determined the national finalists based on the “wow” factor, athleticism, impact of the play, and creativity of the video, which included the title and brief description of the play.

Now it is the fans’ turn to vote with winners announced on Dec. 14. The grand prize is $15,000 with $10,000 for first place and $5,000 for second place. State Farm will have awarded almost to $160,000 to schools during the Friday Night Feats contest this year.

To view contest information and contest rules visit www.FridayNightFeats.com. To see the finalist videos and all of the others submitted this year, visit the State Farm Friday Night Feats contest on YouTube at www.youtube.com/fridaynightfeats.

Who is the Fairfield County Player of the Week for Week 8? It’s New Canaan receiver Kevin Macari.

Against Greenwich, Macari had seven catches for 166 yards and touchdowns of 16 and 46 yards. He also caught the game-winning two-point conversion in New Canaan’s 35-34 come-from-behind victory.

Here’ who else was nominated for the airfield County Player of the Week award were:

• Khairi Fortt, LB, Stamford (11 tackles, two sacks, 48-yard interception return for a touchdown)
• Silas Redd, RB-LB, King (31 carries for 332 rushing yards, five touchdowns, five tackles and an interception)
• Axel Lee, S, Central (10 solo tackles, 3 special teams tackles and a sack)
• Chris White, DT, New Canaan (12 tackles, 4 for a loss and two sacks)
• Mike Lefflbine, QB, Greenwich (10-18-0-151 passing, one passing touchdown, 33 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown)
• Bo McCarty, LB-TE, Ridgefield (11 tackles and a 9-yard reception on a key third down)
• Turner Baty, QB, New Canaan (23-35-1-329 passing, three touchdown passes and a 2-point conversion pass)

Candidates for the Fairfield County Player of the Week award are nominated either direct from their coaches, by media recommendations or by fans of the FCIAC Football Blog on Facebook.

The Fairfield County Player of the Week Award is sponsored by BlueStreak Sports Training and supported by the FCIAC Football Blog.

So was the New Canaan-Greenwich game as exciting as the scoreboard made it seem? It sure was. New Canaan came back and won it 35-34. Here’s a roundtable discussion I did after the game on BlogTalkRadio with Jason Intrieri of the FCIAC Football Blog, Rob Adams of WGCH, and Matt Levine of WSTC/WNLK.

We tried to get New Canaan head coach Lou marinelli to come on the air, too. But we couldn’t get the message to him on the field. Apparently the New Canaan fans pouren out onto the vield, making it a virtual sea of students.

Maybe next week…