Oklahoma is killing me in the 4th inning

[MsDinosaur]

And here I was thinking how sad it was that rain decided the National Championship.

Me too. Without that single 3-run inning due to the rain causing KR to throw wild pitches, Oklahoma would have been up by two instead of down by one. I like both teams and am happy that we had a non-PAC 12 winner this year, but still...

 

[HollowMan]

Maybe I didn't see the game that's being referred to. Because in the game I watched, 3 of the 4 runs in the 4th inning, plus the 5th (and ultimately winning) run, all scored after play resumed. And when play resumed, the TV shots of the light towers clearly showed it was no longer raining.

And during the game, I never saw it rain enough to bring out a tarp. I never saw it rain enough to keep both teams in their dugout - I only saw one team huddling inside. Heck, I never even saw it rain enough to mess up the spikey hair on the NCAA rep, or even make her unable to use her cell phone while standing on the field.

 

[GOINGDEEP]

Hi Cyclone. I was thinking that the more it rained, the wetter and heavier the ball was getting, thus the throwing errors. You just cannot get a grip on a rain soaked softball. I wondered why they didn't bring out 100 softballs and start trying to dry some off?

What are the NCAA rules for requesting a new " dry " ball? I can't seem to find much.

MLB

(c) Receive from the home club a supply of regulation baseballs, the number and make to be certified to the home club by the league president. The umpire shall inspect the baseballs and ensure they are regulation baseballs and that they are properly rubbed so that the gloss is removed. The umpire shall be the sole judge of the fitness of the balls to be used in the game;
(d) Be assured by the home club that at least one dozen regulation reserve balls are immediately available for use if required;
(e) Have in his possession at least two alternate balls and shall require replenishment of such supply of alternate balls as needed throughout the game. Such alternate balls shall be put in play when --
***(1) A ball has been batted out of the playing field or into the spectator area;
***(2) A ball has become discolored or unfit for further use;

 

[parrot]

No real opinion on the rain as both sides had to play in it... but the called third strike on Ricketts was a ridiculous call.

 

[Comp]

What are the NCAA rules for requesting a new " dry " ball? I can't seem to find much.

In college ball the pitcher can request a new ball any time she wants. Not only that, they were constantly bringing in new balls any time one even touched the grass or might have had any moisture other than just being thrown out to the pitcher. Ricketts was throwing wild pitches even after they came back from the delay. Personally I think it was more mental than environment that was causing the problem.

 

[BrianMonk]

Not only that, they were constantly bringing in new balls any time one even touched the grass or might have had any moisture....

Correct - then only to have Rickett's roll the ball all over her jersey.

Amy - with the lightning - Hall of Fame Stadium has the electronic lightning dection system. My daughter played there last year and there was a game we could see repeated lightning strikes in the distance and they continued to play the game. It wasn't until it reached some measurable level on the system that they suspended play.

They also played in some light rain. If 12u players can do it, so can the college girls. Alabama didn't seem to have an issue with the weather.

They would (or should) only suspend play if it becomes a safety issue. Softball is an outdoor sports, elements and all.

 

[Mylil32]

Maybe I didn't see the game that's being referred to. Because in the game I watched, 3 of the 4 runs in the 4th inning, plus the 5th (and ultimately winning) run, all scored after play resumed. And when play resumed, the TV shots of the light towers clearly showed it was no longer raining.

And during the game, I never saw it rain enough to bring out a tarp. I never saw it rain enough to keep both teams in their dugout - I only saw one team huddling inside. Heck, I never even saw it rain enough to mess up the spikey hair on the NCAA rep, or even make her unable to use her cell phone while standing on the field.

AMEN! Enough with the excuses!

 

[Renntiger]

It appeared that the Sooner runner would have reached safely had she not got left of the line running to 1st and ran into the Bama fielder.

I am very curious about this play. As a slapper, it seems that it would have been nearly impossible for her NOT to be left of the line at that point during the base-running, given that the first baseman was standing precisely where she would have begun to cross over to the right side. Also, maybe I was seeing things, but didn't it look like she was trying to avoid a collision with the first-baseman at the last second, while the latter deliberately (reflexively? defensively?) shoulder-checked her anyway, knocking her to the ground, even though she (the first-baseman) was in no position to make a play? If there can be no obstruction calls as long as the runner is on the left side of the baseline, what's there to keep any fielding team from using this tactic to neutralize the quicker and more aggressive slappers (i.e., sending the first baseman to box in the runner to the left of the line and possibly instigate a collision at the cross-over point)? If a slapper has to make a sharp right turn to go around a charging first baseman on the "good" side of the line, she would forfeit a lot of the speed advantage afforded to her by slapping in the first place.

Just trying to learn something from this...

 

[chinamigarden]

So Ok has come out and complained that the rain is too much for the pitcher to maintain control of her grip.
The umpires have stopped the game to seek council and make a decision. The game is in limbo now. Really....
Alabama had to play the top of the inning in this rain and get three outs....Oklahoma should have to do the same thing before they stop. Makes not sense. Play Ball! The situation was the same for Alabama in the top of the inning...so why stop now

Seems surprising to me, that Alabama didn't do the same in their half of the inning. Considering all the crying their coaches have done this WCWS

 

[left turn]

OU's coach made the right decision to come out and contest the rain. Her job is to win; not to act out what is fair for both sides. I believe it was gamesmanship. The longer she talked, the better chance she had to for the game stopped and get better conditions for her team.

Also I don't believe she sent a negative message to the other players by contesting the conditions. She was out there fighting for her team. OU is too seasoned and resilient of a team to let that significantly impact their play. Bama won a tough, close and tense battle.