The Sports Czar

They Say That….but EPSC’s Sports Czar Says….

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May 23, 2013

The Sports Czar on the Eagle Pass vs Sharyland Regional

Quarterfinal Baseball Play-Off Game

Without a doubt, the Eagle Pass-Sharyland regional quarterfinals baseball game was an epic game for the ages.  For the second consecutive year, these two storied high school baseball programs met in the Division 5-A High School Play-offs.

Unfortunately, the game is now a reason for controversy and off-the –field complaints and incident reports before the Texas UIL initiated by Sharyland.

But this Sports Czar can conclude and  say:

The final score on the field was an Eagle Pass 10 to 9 win.

Both teams came to play; this was evident by the 19 total runs scored and a total of 24 hits, 14 by Eagle Pass and 10 by Sharyland.

There were stellar and epic performances by players from both teams.  Both relief pitchers, Gilbert Villalobos of the Eagles and Pancho Martinez of the Rattlers were outstanding on the mound.  Other players from both teams, who I will not mention by name because I would undoubtably fail to recognize deserving players, were equally brilliant and stellar in their performances on the field of play.

Yes, there were controversial calls by the umpires in the game.  And we can say that both head coaches did their jobs; besides the usual baseball related management of game situations, both “worked the umpires” during the course of the game.

Yes, the game was decided on a very controversial “balk” call on the Sharyland pitcher.

It is also a given fact, that the game began with four experienced baseball umpires on the field and that at that time with the score still 0-0,  neither team objected or complained about the umpires.

But now we get into the after the game off-the –field complaints and incident reports before the Texas UIL initiated by Sharyland. I am sure that during the process of deciding on the playing site, the number of games, etc. it was also decided as to the selection of umpires to call the game, to after the game question the integrity of the umpires goes against the very heartbeat of American Baseball.  Even if there was a non-compliance with the agreed upon process for the selection of umpires for the game, to imply that the umpires for the game were biased and purposedly made bad or controversial calls against either team is simply unbelievable and not acceptable.

It may well be that the UIL might see fit to impose sanctions, reprimands, or other actions for a supposedly and assumed failure to follow an agreed procedure for the selection of umpires prior to the game, but as it is in all sports where officials are entrusted to “call” the game, the final score of the game should stand and be final.

Finally, the Sports Czar leaves you with this final say:

American sports, including high school baseball, is a game played by our young men and women under the direction of coaches and governing organizations that establish the rules of each game, but after all is said and done it is “only a game” we play.  At all times and regardless of the ongoings and actions on the field, coaches and most especially players, should conduct themselves in such a way that they are not “ejected” from games because of unacceptable conduct.  This should be more punishable and reprimanded than any failure to follow and agreed process for the selection of umpires.