HENDERSON PROTESTING REVERSAL | Protests filed with UIL over softball decision / debacle in Athens
Henderson High School has officially filed protests with the University Interscholastic League after what happened Saturday as a part of the league’s high school softball playoffs.
It’s been well-chronicled on ETBlitz.com, but the Lady Lions had split the first two games with Nevada Community, in a second-round series being played in Athens, and had a 4-3 lead in the seventh – and what is normally final – inning. Extra innings are played, of course, if the teams are tied.
Henderson had two outs on Community when Lions first baseman Jayda Brown caught one of the Community runners attempting to steal home. The runner left the base path, was tagged out, and ran on to touch home plate, anyway.
The umpire ruled the runner was out, game over. But the runner said she was obstructed, and officials, after conferencing, overturned the umpire’s original decision, ruling that the runner was obstructed, that she scored (tying it at 4-all) and that the game should continue.
Henderson coach John White tried to argue that the runner had left the base path, but to no avail.
Here’s the play:
And here’s a link to a second video placed on our Facebook page by ETBlitz.com reader Dalvin Manns: ETBlitz.com-Henderson.
“What people don’t realize – nothing against Community, they’re a scrappy team, they’re good, and every team goes through things to get to where they are. But the process these girls have gone through the last couple of years: having a brand new coaching staff, learning how to do things our way, and expectations; the amount of hours of work that they’ve put into it, into attendance, grades, even speaking in the community – for it to just be taken from them and all be over something like this, it’s just not right,” Henderson softball coach John White, in his second season, told ETBlitz.com on Sunday.
“…The thing I’m most proud of these girls – after all that, the class they showed, shook the other team’s hand, no trash talking, no nothing. They did their job, and did all we could ask of them.”
The protest needs to be addressed quickly by the UIL, because the Class 4A, Division I regional semifinals – the third round series – will begin this week, and Sanger is awaiting an opponent.
Making things more confusing: the UIL 4A-DI playoff bracket says two different things: it says Community won the series, but in the next bracket, it says Sanger will face Henderson.
“(Fellowship of Christian Athletes) is big in our school, in our program,” White said. “They give up their lunch every Wednesday so we can do bible study. It’s rare that we miss. Every Wednesday, they’re there. At first, it was me, getting it going and showing them, and now they lead.
“That’s been our thing, no matter what happens, give glory to God, do it with class. That’s the highest expectation for them, and they’ve met it every week. Softball doesn’t define who they are; they have a bigger calling. They know that. We’re blessed. But If that ends up being these seniors’ last game, it’s wrong.”
When the UIL’s ruling becomes official, one way or another, ETBlitz.com will have it here on the site, and on our social media, ETBlitz.com on Facebook, and on Instagram (@ETBlitzofficial).