HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL NOTEBOOK

Marmonte League principals voted Tuesday to uphold an appeal by Royal regarding a call that allowed Moorpark to score the winning run on the final play for a 2-1 victory last month.

The game will be continued Friday in the bottom of the 11th inning with the score tied, 1-1, two out and Moorpark runners at first and third.

The ruling could be damaging for Moorpark, which is fighting for a playoff berth.

Moorpark Coach Geoff Combe disagrees with league bylaws that allow a coach one week to appeal.

National Federation rules, which most high schools follow, state that when a questionable call is made on the final play that allows the winning run a coach must appeal before the umpires leave the field.

Southern Section officials told Marmonte League principals that league bylaws can supersede National Federation rules.

“I think that rule is ridiculous,” Combe said. “It basically rewards a coach for not knowing the [National Federation] rule book. You could watch a videotape of a game and say ‘Hey, they didn’t make the right call there, I’m going to protest.’ It opens a can of worms.”

Before the controversial play, Moorpark had a runner at second with two out. Michelle Willette hit a ground ball and was called out at first by the base umpire, whose view was obstructed.

After the runner from second came home, Combe appealed to the plate umpire that the first baseman had pulled her foot off the bag. The plate umpire overruled the call, allowing the run to score.

Days later, Combe found out the game was under protest. Royal Coach Kelly Lovato asserted that the runner at second should only have been allowed to advance one base on the play.