Audio By Carbonatix
Moorpark Unified School District’s appeal of the final outcome of Friday’s high school baseball game against Hart was denied. The California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division 2 championship ended in controversy after a walk-off home run was overturned as a ground-rule double.
Let’s break it down!
Moorpark is located just north of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley. Hart is located in Santa Clarita. They played each other in the Division 2 final at Lake Elsinore Diamond Stadium.
Hart took a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning. High school baseball only plays seven innings.
Moorpark was down to its final three outs with one runner on base.
Taylor Busch stepped into the box and got hold of one. He sent a high fly ball deep to left field for what appeared to be a walk-off dinger. The umpires deliberated for a moment before indeed calling it that way.
Busch hit a walk-off home run to win the championship for Moorpark and the celebration was on.
Taylor Busch (@Taylor_Busch16) crushes this one to left field that was initially a walk off home run but overturned into a ground rule double in the 7th. @MHSBaseballA41 (CA) 2025 #uncommitted
— Five Tool California (@FiveToolCA) May 18, 2024
Profile: https://t.co/2VVQqADSvv pic.twitter.com/BHjZ5hU7qo
Until it wasn’t…
High school baseball controversy ensued!
After further discussion, the home run was overruled. The umpires called it as a ground-rule double because the ball bounced on the warning track before exiting the field of play.
Hart left fielder Brady Wether swears by it.
I’ve seen the different videos, but I promise it bounced. I wouldn’t lie. I swear.
— Brady Wether, via the Los Angeles Times
The videos to which Wether is referring are at the center of a nationwide debate. Was it a home run?
Before you proceed any further, go back and watch the initial video. It looks like a home run to the naked eye.
However, if you zoom in further, the white baseball appears to bounce. There is a contrast between the ball and the fence.
Got the original quality of the @FiveToolCA Moorpark vs. Hart walk-off home run ruled ground rule double video.
— Jeffrey Kahn (@jkahn_5) May 19, 2024
Marked key parts to look at.
I can clearly see the ball in front of the fence and bounce left.
If you cannot see that, I have an eye doctor appt. Monday you can join… pic.twitter.com/5PZUaMhRup
Video from the CIF broadcast appears to tell a different story. It looks like the ball bounces on top of the fence (not on the warning track) and over the wall for a home run— even though Wether does hold up his hand as if to say that it bounced in play.
I’ve read some posts claiming that ball bounced on the field and then went over the fence. Here’s clear video evidence of the ball bouncing off the top of the wall and going over the fence for a game winning home run. pic.twitter.com/cf3dcLgG3A
— Mike Delgado (@MikeDel81794232) May 18, 2024
Another angle also seems to show the ball clear the fence.
It did bounce. After it went over the fence on a fly pic.twitter.com/hqHm4QnZSb
— Ray Lokar🗣️📋⚾🏀🥎🧢 (@CoachLok) May 18, 2024
Moorpark’s walk-off home run was ruled as a ground-rule double. Even though the contentious call left them with runners on second and third with no outs, the rollercoaster of emotions was too much to overcome. Hart won the game 7-6.
The losing side issued an appeal.
MUSD will appeal the final outcome of last night’s Div. 2 Southern Section CIF Baseball Championship game. We will provide more information as this process moves forward.
Thank you,
Dr. Kelli Hays, Superintendent
Zaid Bakoo, MHS Principal
Robert Dearborn, MHS Athletic Director
CIF’s Southern Section immediately shut it down.
Instant replay is not allowed by rule in high school baseball. It was a judgement call, and as such, it stands as final.
— Southern Section spokesman Thom Simmons
Was Moorpark robbed of a state championship? You be the judge!