Close call doesn’t leave Norco’s Hobgood feeling blue

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Most pitchers would get pretty irritated if they lost a no-hitter late in a game. Even more so if the lone hit was allowed by their coach. That’s sorta what happened Thursday in a Mountain View League baseball game between Norco and visiting Corona Santiago, except Norco pitcher Matt Hobgood didn’t seem the least bit upset afterward.

After the Cougars posted a 7-0 victory over Santiago, coaches from both teams got together to discuss a fifth-inning slow roller up the third-base line, which the Norco third-baseman failed to field cleanly. Depending on your point of view, it could have been ruled a hit or an error.

Santiago Coach Ty De Trinidad left it up to Norco Coach Gary Parcell to make the final decision, and Parcell decided to rule the play a hit, leaving Hobgood with a one-hitter.

‘One-hitter, no-hitter, it doesn’t really matter to me. We won,’’ Hobgood told the Riverside Press-Enterprise afterward.

I know some Little Leaguers that have a tough time having that attitude, but Hobgood proved he’s a true team player.

-- Dan Arritt