Poor sportsmanship

[BobInMadison]

LOL! There I was, minding my own business and my elbow, of its own accord, just happened to fly backwards into the chest of a passing player knocking them to the ground... twice! Man, that was some bad luck that just 'happened' to this catcher. And also just bad luck to the two players who got clocked. Good thing this is all just something that 'happened' and not anything anyone 'DID,' because then someone might have to take responsibility for their actions.



As for how this affects me - of course it doesn't immediately affect me or my DD, but given that this board attracts softball players, parents, coaches, and officials from across the country, the responses to softball issues raised here absolutely have an effect the way the sport is played and coached. If the response here was "hey, just aggressive softball, nothing to see" then this sort of thing becomes that much closer to the new normal. On the other hand, when people read posts here and see near universal condemnation, it reinforces that standard of sportsmanship. Those who might think of this sort of play as acceptable hard-nosed softball may think twice about that assessment. Those who don't care if it's thuggery and would do it anyway may realize how quickly they can become Internet infamous. Either way, that makes for a more enjoyable and safer sport for all those who love softball.

Yeah, that is the case. This is how people learn if certain behavior is acceptable or not. In this case, NOT!

 

[Cowdogz]

It appears to me this was a scrappy game from the onset. I have only seen the shortened video with the 2 knockdowns, and this full highlight video. I am only stating the conclusion "I" have drawn based on the videos. I believe, based on initial slide into home by blue team, that all of these tactics were coached, yet, the acts were performed by the teenagers. Aggression at home and on the base paths. Start at :28....i froze the frame when the catcher caught the ball at home, THREE full steps later the runner takes out the catcher who is traveling UP the first base line trying to turn 2. This, in addition to the plays at home tells me the problem doesnt START with a 17 year old girl.

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Chippy play from both sides. Is anybody going to argue that the slide at 3:07 is clean?

 

[WARRIORMIKE]

Knights,

Your post got taken down? Did you see the miracle that took place? The lady in the cart walked!! LOL

 

[knightsb]

Knights,

Your post got taken down? Did you see the miracle that took place? The lady in the cart walked!! LOL

I had a second thought about posting it.... crazy right?

 

[Softball scholar]

Here's my thoughts:

1. Where was the umpire? Not even an obstruction call? How does an umpire that incompetent get to do a state championship game? Since were spreading Megan Crosby's name all over the place, every tournament director, every Athletic Director and every official in the states Athletic association in Texas should know this guys name. He shouldnt a softball game again. Ive officiated other sports, and my first job safety of the competitors.

2. The girls running down the base line where doing what they were taught, to take the shortest path to the home plate. This is a state championship game. You are going to hustle to get to the plate. They cant see what's behind them, and so they are going to get home ASAP. And there path might have brushed the catcher, but who would of thought someone would do that.

3. Where was the head coach of Needsville? You're in a State championship game and one little mistake can cost you a championship. And his girls are thowing body checks. A coach doesnt want to give up silly obstruction calls or have your best players thrown out. This coach needs be suspended. I highly suspect this is taught behavior. What an embarrassment to the sport? I looked up, and the coaches name is Amber Schmidt.

4. And on Megan Crosby, I saw a poster say she was a nice sweet girl. Id be scrared to see the mean nasty girls in Texas? Total Bully!! Scary!!! This girl brought this on herself. Did she think people werent filming the state championship game? On these perfectly executed clotheslines, she was a good at it and had perfect timing. She knew what she was doing, meaning she's done this before. This behavior doesnt pop up out of the blue. This was an assault. If that was my DD receiving that second clothes line, Id be calling the police. What happens is you did this to somebody in real life. You would be arrested and would be getting you're mug shot taken. I see this girl is a Junior. I wonder If the UIL will let this girl play next year? And to Sam Houston State athletic dept, buyer beware and you've been warned.

 

[CoachKevin]

After watching the full video, I have to say that that catcher didn't stand in the same spot when there wasn't a play at home as she did with the 2 knockdowns. Me thinks there may be more to the story with some history between those players. It seems she targeted those 2 players and nobody else that scored.

Not sure how to take the slide into home. Aggressive? Broke up the DP? But at what point do you call it? I mean the catcher can be 6 feet up the 1B line, and the runner lays out on the inside part of the plate knocking the catcher down. The slide into 3B, very well might have been trying to knock the fielder down with the way she positioned her body, basically sliding sideways... but doing that head first? Kinda stupid if your intent to knock over a fielder.

 

[NVfishing]

I do not condone the actions of the catcher in any way, but...

...the girl can throw a body check.

She'd be great in hockey!

 

[NVfishing]

Yes you are missing something here...

#1, the runner did not lower her shoulder/tense up. She is in the process of running hard to home plate. She is pumping her arms. IF she did tense up, that doesn't mean that she was about to do anything. It just means that she felt uncomfortable with a catcher standing that close as she attempted to cross the plate.


#2, You ask what we would think if the runner had collided with the catcher? The catcher is out of position. She would never get hit if she is in position. She is illegally positioned. This is not a 12U rec. catcher that doesn't know where to be. This is a future Division 1 scholarship player that knows how and where to position herself. According to the rules of softball, she has NO RIGHT to stand where she is. Everything about her positioning is that of someone who is being aggressive.

#3 Give us your honest opinion on two questions. What would you do if you were the 3rd base coach/manager and this happened twice in a game you were coaching? Last, how would you handle the scenario if this was a catcher of one of the teams in your organization?

I don't think the catcher is illegally positioned until she moves to make contact. Had she stayed forward to receive the ball then there's no collision. She twists her body and throws the elbow.

 

[BobInMadison]

Does Ms. Crosby play hockey on the side?

 

[riseball]

Obviously everyone has a different perception of what occurred. This is normal in society and quite typical of softball. Some see a slow transfer and a rainbow throw to second, others see a 1.6 pop time. Some see 6 different pitches, other see only bullet spin. Some see a kid trudging to first, others see a 2.8 home to first. So the question will always remain...does a riseball really rise?