A high school baseball umpire in Texas is under investigation for seemingly trying to sabotage a player by covering home plate in dirt to try nullifying a batter’s home run.
Texas (Texarkana) High School played Whitehouse High School in a three-game series over the weekend as part of the state’s 5A playoffs. Texas lost the series 2-1, and shady umpiring may have played a role.
In the second game of the series, Texas’ J.T. Morgan homered, and video shows an umpire coming down the line to try covering the plate in dirt during Morgan’s home run trot, seemingly in an effort to sabotage the slugger.
MUST WATCH: after @JT_Morgan12 HR. WATCH UMP. So he couldn't see it to touch and get called out? #Playoffs #txhsbsb pic.twitter.com/vlsy6xrNpG
— KIP (@kipwilliams15) May 9, 2016
Had Morgan not touched home plate and made his way into the dugout, he would have been called out.
The incident was apparently reported to the Texas Association of Sports Officials, which responded with the following statement:
The Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO) has been made aware of the incident involving our members during the Texas High vs. Whitehouse Baseball game this past weekend. Our organization has an established process to address serious complaints of this nature.
TASO will conduct a thorough investigation regarding all aspects of the 3 game series and take any necessary action based on the outcome of the investigation.
As always, our organization is committed to our Texas student athletes to ensure a fair and impartial outcome of every game.
It’s no surprise that with tactics like this from an umpire going against them, Texas High lost the series. The last time we touched on officiating in Texas high school sports, it was for this story where an official was the victim. This time it’s the other way around.
