July 23, 2009

Jen Colvin via email: jcolvin@littleleague.org

Director, Southeastern Region

Little League International

RE: Appeal of West Virginia State 10-11 Year –Old Little League Baseball
Tournament / Semi-Final Game (Bridgeport v. South Charleston 7/22/2009)

Dear Ms. Colvin:

This letter is sent to protest an erroneous decision in the referenced West Virginia 10-
11 Little League Baseball Tournament. Bridgeport was denied the right to appeal a
misinterpretation of a rule by the First Base Umpire, and does hereby request that the
situation be remedied.

In the semi-final game, which occurred on July 22, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. held in Dunbar,
West Virginia in District 3, an erroneous and egregious call resulted from an umpire’s
misinterpretation of a rule made against the Bridgeport team. The umpires were from
District 3 and no outside umpires were invited and it should be noted that South Charleston
is a representative from District 3. At the bottom of the 5th inning, South Charleston led the
game 5-1. In the top of the 6th inning, as the visiting team, Bridgeport mounted a
comeback, scoring 4 runs to tie the game at 5-5. Then Bridgeport player Dante Bonamico
reached first base, and Elijah Drummond hit a home run out of the ballpark (his first ever).
As he touched first base, the first base (eleven year old) player-coach enthusiastically
touched both hands together (“double high-five”) with the runner. Bonamico advanced to
home, followed by Drummond. This brought the score to 7-5 Bridgeport (with two outs).
Both players touched each base on the path to home plate.

After Drummond touched home base, the first base umpire (Tommy Lewis) came to
the home plate and made the erroneous call “he hugged the runner, that’s assisting the
runner. That’s the second time this has happened.1 The batter is out”. Upon questioning if
the other run counted, Mr. Lewis replied “No--no runs count.” Bridgeport’s manager, Robert
Marra, immediately protested the call to the umpire-in-chief. A conference was held among
the four umpires, and then a representative of the District 3 staff was brought to the field.
The staff member stated that this issue was not a “protestable call” and that they would not
accept Bridgeport’s protest.
1
In fact, this was the first home run for Bridgeport in this game; if there had been previous incidents
of player-coaches high-five celebrations, it was not on the Bridgeport team, as South Charleston had
a prior home run in this game. The erroneous call was not enacted against South Charleston and no
warnings were issued by this or any of the umpires to either team.
 The group checked the Little League Rules and alleged that the contact constituted a
violation of Rule 7.09 (Interference by a batter or runner). The umpire-in-chief and the
District 3 staff stated that play will resume and no protest will be filed. Despite the fact that
both runs had been placed on the score board and in the score book, Bridgeport was not
allowed to continue batting and was charged with its third out, South Charleston went to
bat, both Bonamico and Drummonds’ runs were removed, and the score was erroneously
changed back to 5-5. Marra advised that Bridgeport was then playing the game under
protest. The official stated again no protest would be accepted in the matter. At that point,
Bridgeport felt there was no option but to resume play. It was a hostile environment that
was clearly created to intimidate the Bridgeport team and fans. Officials made multiple
threats of removing parents, our manager, our coach and our league president from the
facility if anything else was said about the matter. Police officers were called to the park
and particularly asked for the names of our manager and league president identifying them
as the source of the trouble. The officers remained throughout the remainder of the game.
They also prevented our manager and league president from any further contact with the
umpires or officials.

Play continued. Bridgeport held South Charleston to no runs. If the erroneous call
had not been carried out, the game would have been won by Bridgeport (7-5). Because of
this error, the score was tied at the end of regulation, 5-5. The game ended in the next
inning with a score of 8-7 with South Charleston “winning.” As the umpires went to exit the
field, Bridgeport’s Manager, Robert Marra, told each of the four umpires that he wanted to
protest the game. The umpires indicated that his protest would not be accepted.

It should also be noted that this particular umpire had officiated numerous games
throughout the baseball tournament. Several homeruns were hit during various games with
several exact and/or similar “high-five” and celebratory gestures between runners, coaches
and player-coaches. No calls of interference, runner assistance or any other related calls or
warnings were made. It was only in this semi-final game, after a significant rally and finally
lead change by a team challenging the District 3 representative in the baseball tournament
being officiated by District 3 umpires and specifically 3 of the 4 officials from the city of
South Charleston did this issue come into play.

Before leaving the field, Bridgeport’s Manager contacted various Little League
officials throughout the state of West Virginia, who indicated that Bridgeport’s protest has to
be accepted and provided Bridgeport with instructions for filing the protest. In support of
this protest, note the following rule interpretations of Rule 7.09 (Little League Umpire School
Rules Instruction Manual prepared for the 2007 Regional Little League Umpire Schools):

1. The Right Call Casebook-Play 7.14-The batter hits a home run with the
bases full. Each runner who passes the third base coach is congratulated
with a “high five” by the base coach. Ruling: No call. This is not
assistance. (emphasis added).

2. Instructor comments: Giving a “high five” or patting a player on the back

after a home run IS NOT PHYSICAL ASSISTANCE. Do not call the player out
 for receiving a “high five” or congratulatory pat on the back in situations
such as this.

Furthermore on the Little League Website under Rule Interpretations:

Rule 7.09 - It is interference by a batter or runner when - (i) in the judgment of the
umpire, the base coach at third base, or first base, by touching or holding the runner,
physically assists that runner in returning to or leaving third base or first base.

Play - Batter crushes a belt high fast ball and clears the centerfield fence for a home
run. While circling the bases the 3rd base coach gives the home run hitter a
congratulatory high five. Should the umpire call the runner out for touching the 3rd
base coach?
Answer: As you can see by the wording above, it is NOT assisting the runner leaving
third or returning to third, it is a happy moment and nothing should be done and
certainly don’t call the runner out.

It is a sad statement that the “officials” would penalize children (and teammates),
who are jubilant about this momentous occasion. How many of you can remember your
first home run? Did you receive a pat from a teammate along the way? This is the essence
of teamwork.

Indeed, the logical explanation of this rule is to eliminate an advantage to the base
runner. Physical assistance of a runner implies that this would give the runner an “edge” of
some sort, by holding the runner up in the event of a ball in play, or pushing the runner in
the event of an error. None of this is possible in this situation, as the ball is completely out
of play (over the fence), and no “assistance” would affect the game one way or another.

According to the Rule 7.05, a batter may, without liability to be put out, advance to
home base scoring a run, if a fair ball goes out of the playing field in flight and the runner
touches all bases legally.

Moreover, under Rule 7.09, if there had been a violation, then the umpire should call
“time” and enforce the penalty. Once this is done, the runner is out and all other runners
should return to the bases occupied at the time of the assistance. Because the umpire
failed to make the erroneous call timely, Bonamico had already scored a run, and thus,
even if this were a valid call, it was not made until the Bonamico run had scored which
would have caused the Bonamico run to stand independent of the Drummond run.

On a related note, a home run ball is considered a “dead ball” under Rule 5.02. The
batter and all other runners should advance.

This matter needs corrected and it needs corrected now. This is beyond an injustice,
as it is not only procedurally wrong, but morally wrong. Eleven-year old children, at an
impressionable age, are learning by example. Is this an example that Little League wants
to set? What about compassion, joy, teamwork? And not least of all, following and applying
the rules. This was not done.

Equity demands the following relief:

The umpire’s erroneous call be reversed;

The legally earned and scored runs be reinstated;

Bridgeport be awarded the win, as South Charleston, who was not adversely
affected nor disadvantaged in any way by the erroneous call, failed to score any runs in the
bottom of the 6th inning. Bridgeport is willing to waive its rights to the third out in that
inning, and leave the final score at 7-5.

Bryan Spurlock, the President of the League in District 3 hosting the baseball
tournament, Dunbar Little League, has agreed to delay the championship game scheduled
for this evening, July 23, 2009, per your instruction. He may be reached at 304.546.9959.

It appears that little time, nor thought is necessary because the rule is crystal clear.
Any such interference call shall NOT be made when it is merely a “high five” for a home run
hit. Please advise me of your decision on this matter today. You may reach me at
304.677.8087, Mr. Marra by cell phone at 304.669.1979 and Mr. Paul Smith (Bridgeport
Little League President) at 304.290.8244. We appreciate your very prompt response.

Very truly yours,

Bridget D. Furbee, Esquire

Cc: Donna Haines-Administrator-District 5 (West Virginia)

John Niewierowski-Administrator-District 3 (West Virginia)

Robert Marra, Manager, Bridgeport 10-11 All Stars

Paul Smith-President, Bridgeport Little League