FHSAA rules that despite a blown call, Bloomingdale's win vs. Durant will stand without replaying the game.
By SCOTT PURKS
Published April 6, 2004
BRANDON - The outcome of Bloomingdale's victory against Durant last Tuesday will not change even though an umpire made the wrong call that led to the winning run, the Florida High School Athletic Association ruled Monday.
The final score stands: Bloomingdale 1, Durant 0.
That was different from the FHSAA ruling Friday, when the association decided the ending of the game had to be replayed Monday night because of how the game originally ended.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Bloomingdale had runners on first and second base with two outs and a 3-1 count to Allison Kime. The next pitch, however, was called a ball high, which bounced off the catcher's helmet and flew over the fence.
The umpires awarded the walk and allowed the lead runner to come home for the victory.
The FHSAA said the umpire blew the call. According to the rules, the batter should have received the walk and the other runners should have advanced only one base.
On Monday, the teams were scheduled to return to Bloomingdale and resume the game with two outs and the bases loaded for the Bulls.
Until, that is, the FHSAA stepped in Monday morning and cited one of its bylaws, 12.3.2, that essentially states once the contest is ruled over by the umpires the game is over, no matter how many wrong calls were made.
"Schools can file a protest and we (the FHSAA) will look into the matter," FHSAA commissioner Bob Hughes said. "If the officials make the wrong call we will deal with the umpires as a separate action, but we will not overturn or go back and replay the game. So, this decision (Bloomingdale 1, Durant 0) is final and that's it."
Much to the relief of Bloomingdale coach Mike Clamon.
"What's strange is that neither (Bloomingdale nor Durant) filed an appeal with the FHSAA," Clamon said. "We were both ready to go on (with the season). We have lives to live. ... But I went over (Sunday) to get the field ready for (Monday night) because I would have had to get off of work early on Monday to get it done. (Clamon does not work at the school.)
"Then (Durant) would have had to dress and get over there and who knows what would have happened. We might have played for two seconds or for four more hours depending on how things went."
The victory kept Bloomingdale undefeated in Class 6A, District 6 and handed Durant two district losses. Bloomingdale is 18-2, 7-0, and Durant is 13-3, 6-2.
"They told us Tuesday that it was over and that was fine us," Durant coach Missy Hernandez said. "But then we hear on Friday that someone has overturned the ruling, even though we didn't appeal it. We hear that the FHSAA is making it so we will resume the game on Monday.
"Then we all get excited and pumped up because we think, "Hey we have a second chance.' And then at noon (Monday) I find out, no, we're not playing after all. So all the kids and parents had to call and change their plans from a game to a practice. What a mess. It wasn't the end of the world, but it was annoying."
