by ROBERT WHITMER
The Boerne-Champion Chargers defeated the Lehman Lobos 3-1 Thursday in a hotly contested game that featured argued calls, player collisions and even an ejection.
Justin Penney started the game for the Lehman Lobos on a night that looked as if rain would threaten the game. The clouds were dark and the attitudes were darker. The Lobos played good defense behind Penney but still surrendered one run in the top of the first by way of good situational hitting by the Charger team.
The Lobos struck back in the bottom of the third and tied the score with an RBI double by Jacob Urea. This was set up by a Micah Tambur single followed by a sacrifice bunt by Josh Besa.
The controversy started in the top of the fourth when the umpires allowed a steal by the Chargers after a controversial no-call on batter’s interference on a throw down to second on the steal.
The Boerne-Champion batter stepped in front of Lobo catcher Hunter Lehman which impaired his throw. Had the batter been called for interference, the batter would have been called out and the runner would had been sent back to first base with two outs. Instead, because of the no-call, it put a runner on second with one out and led to a two-run inning.
After the game, the umpire said the no-call was made because the momentum of the batter’s swing on the outside pitch carried him over the plate and into the path of the throwing catcher.
The controversy continued in the bottom of the fifth inning when, after a Micah Tambur walk, the umpires called a double play to give Lehman two outs. It wasn’t the fact that they called the double play that caused the controversy. Rather, it was the way the umpire called the play that caused the two outs.
The play was intended to be a sacrifice bunt. The bunt went right back to the pitcher who threw to second base for the out on the lead runner. Tambur proceeded to slide into second base with an attempt to break up the double play.
Normally, a player can slide into the base at any distance around the bag as long as part of their body can still make contact with the base. If this move causes the double play to be broken up, that is allowed. The play went wrong – not in the fact that Tambur made contact with the runner, but that the umpire ruled Tambur made contact with the runner above the knee, causing the Lehman player to be ejected from the game due to a “malicious slide” and the runner to be called out at first base.
The Lobos put up a valiant effort in the sixth and seventh innings but still came up short in the end. The Lobos fall to 12-13 on the season and 3-4 in district play. The Lobos next travel to Alamo Heights on Thursday.
