Notes, quotes and a thought or two…
The college baseball season came to an end last week when Oregon State came back from one game down to beat Arkansas.
For those who didn’t see game 2 of the championship series, it was one for the ages. Arkansas was one out away from winning the national championship when and Oregon State batter hit a foul ball over the first baseman’s
head in short right field. The second baseman overran the play and the foul ball that should have been out three landed foul. Oregon State tied the game and then won it on the next batter. The Beavers went on to win Game 3 and the national championship.
I’m sure that pop fly will live in Arkansas infamy. I’m sure many Arkansas fans and college baseball fans feel like that’s a play that should have been made. I agree that if you are going to win a championship, that’s a play you have to make. But having seen that same pop foul countless times, it’s not as easy as it looks and especially in a park as big as TD Ameritrade. The right fielder is playing deep to avoid an extra base hit over his head. It’s a bad angle for the first baseman and it’s a very long run for the second baseman. If there was any wind at all, that could blow the ball back. Yes, it’s a hard play to make and one that should have been made. But even the best second basemen can struggle to make that play.
So the next time one of your kids or teammates misses what should be an easy pop up over second base, just remember that it’s not as easy as it looks. If a college player in the national championship game can miss that pop fly, it can happen to anybody.
It won’t be long now
It seems like football should be months away but it won’t be long now.
Mississippi private schools begin practice on Monday, July 23 which is less than three weeks away.
Mississippi public schools begin on July 30.
MHSAA slow-pitch and volleyball practice begins July 23 as well. So while there is still some summer left, it’s coming to a quick end.
I have often said that slow-pitch softball is dying a slow death. Last year, the MHSAA combined all classes in three divisions.
This year, more schools have called it quits and picked up volleyball. Granted, I don’t know much about volleyball, but at least it’s a sport you can get a scholarship in. And it’s not like we are killing softball because fast-pitch is getting bigger and bigger every year. It’s here to stay and we are only getting better and better at it, as evidence by Neshoba Central finishing No. 1 in the nation by USA Today.
So just stand aside and watch and enjoy these last few years of slow-pitch softball. I promise you, it’s just a matter of time now.
Robbie Robertson is sports editor for The Newton County Appeal. You can e-mail him at rrobertson12811@yahoo.com.
