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I was at Dedeaux Field. The umpires certainly did not have a good game. USC's 2 runs in the 1st were abetted by several questionable calls. With USC on 2nd, Handley had the runner picked off after a strike out. The runner broke for 3rd and the ball reached the bag in plenty of time for the tag. Bellafronto caught the ball, put his glove down and the umpire called the runner safe. Esquer protested to no avail.

Originally I thought Bellafronto had him, but the replay from the backside made it clear that Bellafronto didn't get his glove down and missed the tag. Besides, that call was not the home plate ump.

After a walk, the USC runner on 3rd tried to steal home. Starting pitcher Miller recognized the situation when the runner was halfway to home. He whipped it to Handley who put the tag down in time as the runner slid. We waited one second, two seconds for the home plate ump to make a call. Finally, after the USC runner had separated himself from Handley's glove, the ball popped loose and the ump signaled safe.

From the broadcast, it was impossible to tell when the ball popped out. It was quite clear that the ump was looking to see if Handley had the ball or not. Personally, I never saw the ball until it appeared loose quite some time after the initial play - as you noted.

One problem with the delayed call was that it gave time for the runner from first to go to third. The second was that it made Handley mad so he tried a futile throw to third, overthrew the ball so that it skipped into the outfield, and in comes run number 2. I am guessing his error was on the throw, but dropping the ball could have been another.

[CTcard]

I was at Dedeaux Field. The umpires certainly did not have a good game. USC's 2 runs in the 1st were abetted by several questionable calls. With USC on 2nd, Handley had the runner picked off after a strike out. The runner broke for 3rd and the ball reached the bag in plenty of time for the tag. Bellafronto caught the ball, put his glove down and the umpire called the runner safe. Esquer protested to no avail.

Originally I thought Bellafronto had him, but the replay from the backside made it clear that Bellafronto didn't get his glove down and missed the tag. Besides, that call was not the home plate ump.

After a walk, the USC runner on 3rd tried to steal home. Starting pitcher Miller recognized the situation when the runner was halfway to home. He whipped it to Handley who put the tag down in time as the runner slid. We waited one second, two seconds for the home plate ump to make a call. Finally, after the USC runner had separated himself from Handley's glove, the ball popped loose and the ump signaled safe.

From the broadcast, it was impossible to tell when the ball popped out. It was quite clear that the ump was looking to see if Handley had the ball or not. Personally, I never saw the ball until it appeared loose quite some time after the initial play - as you noted.

One problem with the delayed call was that it gave time for the runner from first to go to third. The second was that it made Handley mad so he tried a futile throw to third, overthrew the ball so that it skipped into the outfield, and in comes run number 2. I am guessing his error was on the throw, but dropping the ball could have been another.