Bat controversy engulfs Royal’s 3-2 victory over San Clemente
As if there wasn’t enough controversy involving metal bats, what happened during Friday’s Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinal game between Simi Valley Royal and host San Clemente might require an X-ray machine or a blow torch to end the arguing that erupted during and after Royal’s 3-2 victory.
The Highlanders (25-6) got consecutive run-scoring singles from Scott Hockenberry and Ryan Tinkham in the top of the sixth inning to wipe out a 2-1 deficit and earn a spot in Tuesday’s semifinals at Blair Field in Long Beach.
Afterward, San Clemente Coach David Gellatly said he believed Tinkham used an illegal bat.
“Coaches know whether the bat is juiced, and you can tell by the sound,” he said. “It’s an illegal bat.”
Tinkham’s composite bat made a thud sound instead of the usual ping noise on his two singles Friday. Each time, the umpires stopped the game to examine the bat but declined to rule it illegal. After the final out, the umpires took away the bat, but Southern Section spokesman Thom Simmons said the umpires were told to return the bat.
“The umpires checked the bat three times,” Simmons said in an e-mail. “It was in their judgment that the bat was legal. If they had determined the bat was illegal, they could have confiscated the bat and ejected the player.”
Tinkham said, “I don’t know what makes that sound.”
Added Royal Coach Dan Maye: “Because it makes a thud sound, everyone thinks it’s been tampered with. Everyone has checked it out all season long.”
When the material inside a bat comes loose, the ball supposedly jumps off the bat much better, but it takes opening up a bat to determine that.
More troublesome for San Clemente was its failure to bunt successfully. Four times the Tritons tried to put down bunts, but they never advanced a runner. Twice Royal pitcher Cody Buckel, who also plays shortstop, threw out runners.
Even though Buckel improved to 12-1 with a complete game, he was not in top form. He said he felt ill before the game, took in liquids in the early innings and slowly got better. He hit four batters, walked three, struck out seven and gave up four hits.
Royal took a 1-0 lead in the second on Billy Conard’s home run. San Clemente regained the lead in the bottom of the second on a two-run home run by Joel Atkinson.
In the sixth, the Highlanders finally got to San Clemente starter Kyle Friedrichs. Buckel reached on an error, and with two out, Conard drew a walk. Hockenberry lined a single to center, and Buckel scored with a head-first slide, touching home plate with his hand for the tying run just before catcher Aaron Jones could tag him.
Then Tinkham singled in the go-ahead run.
Royal will play Santa Ana Mater Dei in Tuesday’s semifinals.
