As the stellar radio reporter/commentator Paul Harvey used to say … and now for the rest of the story.
After covering an Imperial Valley League softball game between two then undefeated teams, Imperial and Southwest Highs, a week or so ago, I feel that while my story was accurate, there’s more to it.
Imperial won the game 5-4 in eight innings and deservedly so, it was a great game.
Yet I haven’t been able to shake off the fact that the game could be looked upon as hinging on an umpire’s call although I’m not in any way saying or suggesting that the call won the game for Imperial or lost it for Southwest.
The call on a line drive down the left-field line in the bottom of the fifth inning did have an impact as the hit was eventually called “fair” resulting in a three-run double that tied the game at 4-4.
It didn’t make the story because it was a “judgment call,” solely based on the way the umpire saw it and not his interpretation of a rule which could have resulted in a protested game, which I would have had to report.
Another reason I didn’t include the call in my story was that I personally was seated at the announcer’s table right behind home plate and honestly did not see it.
Since the game, many people have asked me about “the call” and why I hadn’t mentioned it in my story.
Because folks, it’s not part of a game wrapup as we call them here at the Imperial Valley Press, it was just a call.
So why does it still bother me?
Because the umpire who I was watching to determine what was going on was out of position and did not make an immediate decision either way, leaving everyone wondering as play went on.
The umpire eventually checked with his partner, but it was his call and when it came it was late, had me questioning how someone with bad mechanics would be assigned a game of that proportion or any game at all.
When I talked to Southwest coach Kevin Kerns after the game “the call” didn’t come up. The class act that I have always found him to be, Kerns talked about other things including having runners in scoring position with one out and not scoring, things his team didn’t do.
I’m sure that Kerns, as well as Imperial coach Andrea Horton, have had their share of calls go for and against them but either way I think all coaches, players and fans deserve and want immediate, empathic and clear decisions.
That didn’t happen and it leaves unnecessary room for doubt, bad feelings and second-guessing.
While the call was not a part of my story … in the end officials don’t win or lose games … in my mind it did influence the game as does any close call but I believe good officials work hard to make those critical calls as fairly as humanly possible.
Again “the call” didn’t decide the game, but should serve as a reminder to high school officials in all sports that everyone involved in officiating needs to be as dedicated and hard-working as the coaches and athletes they are officiating.
Officials must work hard to be knowledgeable on the rules, know the mechanics and positioning of the sport and be in the proper physical and mental state to give their absolute best effort … all the time, every time.
And as a member of the Imperial Valley Volleyball Officials Association, “the call” serves as a reminder to me too.
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