Washington leads Florida 8-0 in the top of the seventh. Usually, by NCAA rules, a softball game is called when a team claims an 8-run lead after five innings. However, that does not apply in the WCWS championship series.
Everyone, including fans, teams, umpires and field crew, assumed the run rule was to be applied. Both teams lined up to shake hands, fans were leaving the stands, umpires were walking off the field, and field crew members were already taking out first and second bases.
Florida did place a runner in scoring position for the first time this evening. In the bottom of the sixth, Aja Paculba reached second, but the sophomore was left on base.
Please get ESPN to change their graphics so that the pitch speed is not in the same place as the balls/strikes. This was maddening tonight with the way the game was called as you could not tell exactly what the ump was signalling on each pitch.
One more win and it is national champion for Washington. To focus and play hard for one more game is what is needed. Woohoo!
Florida remembers that you can't win a game without hitting the ball. You MUST get the bat off your shoulder and swing it!
HP Umpire Sally Walker needs to be told the correct strike zone, righties can't hit ball in the left side batter's box. What a joke! When the behind the plate camera shows the ball starting out left to a rightie and never crosses the plate, black of the plate in lands in the leftie batter's box....a called strike OMG.
If she's the best umpire they have, the sport's in trouble. I felt sorry for Florida's hitters; a floating zone doesn’t need to exist in the NC Series. Lawrie pitched great but Walker's zone was ridiculous.
Also, Walker's explanation to Missouri about the pitching lane was laughable. Are you kidding? Its where the foot lands Ms. Walker not where she starts.
Finally her call or no call on the Washington HR needs to be reviewed by ESPN as to where the ball was in relation to the fair pole. I dont care where it landed, but where did it cross the pole? Above, inside (both fair) or outside (foul).
Wow Greg. You are obviously an expert. Congratulations! As per the strike zone,she was consistent all night. She gave the outside corner to both pitchers and unless you were catching that game I doubt you had the same perspective that she had.The same goes for the no homerun call. She was in the correct position to make the call according to the foul pole. Obviously your plea to ESPN has not been answered because they did not have the correct camera angle to make it based on where it crossed the foul pole. That is why they tried to make it based on where the ball landed. As an expert you know that where it landed has nothing to do with the call. Funny that the first base coach for Washington who had the same view as Walker had nothing to say about the call. Hmmm. Could it be it was the right call? As for her explanation of the illegal pitch I am sure that she deeply regrets that it did not appease you. However the coach that she had the discussion with seemed fine with it. He understood that it is nearly impossible for an umpire to make that call and see the plate as necessary. That is why they allow the field umpires to make the call as well. It is a tough tough call. We are fortunate to have experts such as yourself that can make the call with instant replay and slow motion. Take the chip off your shoulder buddy and sit back and take in the games. You'd be surprised how enjoyable it can be when you stop second guessing everyone. I know that this particular umpire has worked at least two other world series, so although she may not be as good as you Greg, I'd say she has done some good things along the way.
By just a fan I agree. Walkers strike zone was consistent." consistently poor" for all teams involved. lets not get the fiddle out and cry in support of walker. Your explanation of the illegal pitch not being able to be called by the plate umpire is a joke. oh and yes I have wore the mask for 23 years. Sit all of those umpires down who worked in the World series including the ones that fell down and got knocked down and watch the videos and the tapes and think all including walker will hang their heads.