Grantsburg Escapes with 15-0 win in three innings.....

It was a beautiful Friday evening after a short rain.. the grills were fired up and the smell of hotdogs and brats filled the air.  Rush City arrived and the show was about to start.  It was going to be a busy Friday in more ways than one.  There were church services in Frederic.  There was Prom preparations in the process and there was Rush City standing in the way of getting to the other activities on time.....

   After a very good warm up, Grantsburg took the field. When Rush City's lead off batter sent a fly ball to center, we were all surprised.  When the second batter lifted another one to center, Katie was ecstatic and we were surprised.  When the third batter hit a shot to right center.... we realized that this could be a good game.  But, Mollie struck out the next batter and we came to bat.

    Katie singled as always....Mollie walked.  Whitney reached on an error.. Miranda doubled over the center fielder's head..Shelby walked... Lindsey singled...Jamie singled...Alyssa walked...Katie doubled to right...yes, that is not a misprint..Katie Kooier hit the ball to right field....we couldn't believe it.. So the inning had ended and Grantsburg had a comfortable lead of 8-0.  Every game this week had gone just like that.  It is not much preparation for the more challenging games to come, but it is fun....for bit.

    Rush City hit another double to the gap..It was a replay of the first inning but they couldn't score.

    In Grantsburg's half of the inning Lindsey singled for her second hit.  Jamie, Sarah, Katie, and Mollie all picked up hits... After Whit walked, Miranda stepped up to the plate... The birds quit singing...the track people quit running... the brats no longer were sizzling...the kids in the crowd were actually watching...It was Miranda.  She always has this smirk on her face like she knows what is about to happen.  The third baseman started to sweat...... and then..She swung....it was a rifle shot headed toward Webster.....it wasn't too high, but it was reaching the sound barrier. The geese flying overhead started to veer off... It banged into the new purple wind screen about half way up setting tremors in motion....the fence shook...the shock wave went all around the fence and knocked cans of pop off the dugout shelves...it continued around the field and we felt two or three after shocks.  It was the hardest ball that I have ever seen a female athlete hit.....Miranda continued to smirk...the kids went back to playing and the brats all popped with enthusiasm.  Grantsburg was ahead 15-0...the last of the fans arrived...and the game was over by the 15 run rule that was mutually agreed upon before the game started... It is a little uncomfortable asking the other team about the 15 run rule, but we did....

It was a big week for Grantsburg.. They had batted in 11 inning and had outscored opponents 71-0...so we enjoyed it...because you never know when the rain comes..The Players allllll dressed up for the weekend...Check out their dates....

and by the way.... after the Luck game, the JV will play a few innings.  During the St. CRoix game, the JV will play at the same time.

TWIS:  later in the week.... everybody on the team keep reminding Don about sending in game scores for the seeding meeting.

QUESTION 1      I have a freshman pitcher who has developed a slap against her glove during her windmill. she gains no advantage, but probably hurts her speed by the tap of her glove.  Umpires have watched her closely and in all but one case have said that she is legal.  Their feeling was it was no different than a pitcher that hits her hip as she pitches.  This is how I see the situation and have instructed the pitcher not to worry about it.  Is she legal?

ANSWER  From your description I do not find anything that would be illegal about this pitching delivery.  Keep in mind that it is always difficult to give an answer without personally observing.

QUESTION 2      Last night during our game the umpire would not let the girls step out of the batter's box between pitches.  He wanted them to keep at least one foot in the box at all times, except on a passed ball or wild pitch.  Is this the rule?

ANSWER  Please refer to Rule 7-3-1 in regards to the time limit and restrictions on the batter.  There is not a rule which would prohibit a batter from stepping out of the batter's box.  Baseball however does have a rule which require "The batter to keep at least one foot in the batter's box throughout time at bat."  I am assuming the umpire was thinking of the baseball rule.

QUESTION 3      If I had my batter batting on the left side to bunt and she has two strikes on her can I move her to the right side of the box?

ANSWER  Legal.  Please refer to Rule 7-3-1 and 7-3-3 for restrictions including the Penalty and Effects.

QUESTION 4      Some of our parents are insisting that if a runner is advancing to home, and the play is at home, the runner must slide.  Is this the official rule?

ANSWER  No there is not a requirement for sliding.  Please refer to  Rule 8-6-14; runner could be declared out at home if she "maliciously crashes into a defensive player".   Also Case Book 8-4-3, sit. E; runner doesn't slide, collides with catcher jarring the ball loose.  RULING: "There is no obstruction or interference.  This is viewed simply as a collision.  The run scores."  Coaches need to discuss when it is appropriate to slide.  Players may not run over or knock down defensive players (malicious contact).  The decision to call malicious contact is a judgement call by the umpire.  Rule 8-6-13 may also be applied; "...runner does not legally slide and causes illegal contact and/or illegally alters the actions of the fielder..."

PENALTY: Ball is dead and the runner is out.

QUESTION 5      Is there really a strike called for intentionally removing the coach's box boundary line?  Would an umpire really call a strike for the coach removing part of the coach's box?

ANSWER  Yes that is the correct penalty.  Rule 3-6-17; "Team personnel shall not intentionally remove any lines of the batter's box or on the field of play."

QUESTION 6      Two outs, two balls and two strikes.  The batter swings at a pitch that hits the front of the plate and bounces over the backstop out of play.  What is the proper call?

ANSWER  Batter advances to first base.  Rule 8-4-3-1c; "a wild pitch or passed ball lodges in or goes under, over or through the backstop."

QUESTION 7      Is it legal for the starting pitcher to warm-up throwing off the pitching rubber on the game field prior to the game or prior to either team taking infield warm-ups?

ANSWER  Legal.  There is no NFHS rule or WIAA regulation that would prohibit this practice.  Coaches should be certain their conference does not have a rule which addresses this issue.

    QUESTION 8      Batter is hit by a pitch in the act of swinging.  The ball struck her right hand         and rolled foul.  The count was 2-2.

ANSWER  Batter is out.  Please refer to Rule 8-1-2b, Penalty 2: "If the batter is hit anywhere on the body, including on the hands, while swinging at a pitch and hits the ball fair or foul, the ball is dead and a strike called.  If it is strike three, the batter is out."

QUESTION 9      Our pitcher has developed blisters on her pitching hand fingers.  Is she allowed to put tape on them?
ANSWER  Illegal.  Please refer to Rule 6-2-2; "The pitcher shall not at any time during the game be allowed to use tape....or contact points of the pitching hand or fingers