Then there was the fiasco that happened on the diamond in New Orleans on Friday night.
The New Orleans Privateers and Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils had not met in college baseball since 2006. The Devils may rethink any future matchups after being swept under record-setting and nefarious ways.
UNO had one the last six against the Devils, scoring 71 runs in the last five meetings. Getting five in the bottom of the third inning was more than enough for Privateer pitching against an inferior opponent, coming away with a 7-3 victory.
The win moved UNO to 9-5 on the season, dropping MV State to 6-7. It was the final at bat of the game that picked up nationwide attention.
A relatively close game in most aspects, both teams finished with eight hits and five walks. Privateer pitching had eight strikeouts, to the Devils’ five. The Devils actually jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top half of that third inning, closing the gap to 5-3 in the top of the fourth.
With Mississippi Valley State leadoff hitter Davon Mims facing a 1-1 count with two outs in the top of the ninth, you always hold out hope getting the leadoff man in the order on base could spark something. Mims had already struck out twice, but did have one of the Devils’ three RBIs to that point.
Home plate umpire Reggie Drummer had other ideas.
Trey Ucey’s next offering was about a foot low, and had to be picked just off the top of home plate by Privateer catcher Jorge Tejeda.
Drummer called this strike two. Even the UNO television announcer Emmanuel Pepis was stunned by the call. Mims jumped straight up in the air, completely incredulous. Mims stepped back in, but made it a point to show where the ball ended up with the end of his bat. Asking for time, Mims was denied by Drummer, as Ucey went into his motion.
The 1-2 delivery was thrown into the opposing batter’s box, and Drummer rang up Mims to end the game.
Pepis even said that Mims was rung up on ball two, stating:
“That is just awful…Reggie Drummer just wanted to go home.”
A tip of the cap to Tejeda for holding Mims back after the final pitch, who still had the bat in his hand.
The Southland Conference, who the Privateers have been a member of since 2013 agreed. The conference removed Drummer from the remainder of the three-game series, suspending him indefinitely.
The MLB and their minor league system both went to sweeping rule changes for 2023. The NCAA often tries new wrinkles that make their way to the professional leagues, or adapts a similar version based on the success of what those leagues have done. The pitch clock is already affecting the outcome of Spring Training games, the bases are larger, and the shift is thankfully gone.
The one thing that needed to be done however is the switch to robot umpires for balls and strikes. Not only does this get the call right, but then you avoid having Drummer use his personal agenda to make sure he can get home in time to see what kind of coverage he gets on the 11 PM eastern Sportscenter. Drummer never looked at anyone as he walked off the field, which is all the evidence you need.
Winning 35-3 and 16-3 in seven inning games for the sweep, the Privateers sure did not need the added assistance. The 35 runs on Saturday is a new school record at UNO.
-JC24