July 24, 2009

Tournament Committee via email:

jcolvin@littleleague.org

Williamsport, Pa

Little League International

RE: Appeal of West Virginia State 10-11 Year –Old Little League Baseball
Tournament / Semi-Final Game (Bridgeport v. South Charleston 7/22/2009)

Dear Tournament Committee:

I wanted to first provide an overview of the atmosphere and general direction of the
game. The South Charleston Manager had been thrown out of a game earlier in the week
and the situation leading into our game was tense. As play proceeded, the game was
closely contested and tensions continued to mount as several close plays/calls were made
both ways. I just wanted to provide some background information to give you a more
accurate picture of the atmosphere at the ball park that evening.

After the South Charleston starting pitcher, a very strong left hander, expended his 85
pitches in the top of the 6th, the score stood at 5-2. South Charleston brought in a new
pitcher and Bridgeport rallied to tie the game at 5-5. With Bridgeport player Dante
Bonamico on first base, Elijah Drummond hit a home run over the left center field fence (his
first ever). As he touched first base, the first base (eleven year old) player-coach
enthusiastically touched both hands together (“double high-five”) with the runner.
Bonamico advanced to home, followed by Drummond. This brought the score to 7-5
Bridgeport (with two outs). Both players touched each base on the path to home plate.

After Drummond touched home base, the first base umpire (Tommy Lewis) came to home
plate and made the erroneous call “he hugged the runner, that’s assisting the runner.
That’s the second time this has happened. The batter is out”. Upon questioning if the other
run counted, Mr. Lewis replied “No--no runs count.” I immediately protested the call to
the umpire-in-chief. A conference was held among the four umpires, and then a
representative of the District 3 staff was brought to the field. The staff member stated that
this issue was not a “protestable call” and that they would not accept Bridgeport’s protest.
Mr. Lewis and the Administrators stated this was a judgement call and could not be
protested. This is clearly not the case and was a definite misinterpretation of the rule. As
far as the 2nd time this has happened, this was the first home run hit by Bridgeport during
the game and at no time did we assist a runner during a live ball situation. We were never
given a warning for assisting a base runner so this comment was not understood. South
Charleston had hit a home run earlier in the game and perhaps this was what Mr. Lewis was
referring to, although he did not make the “assisting the runner” call the first time he
witnessed it, nor did he issue a warning to the teams.

The group checked the Little League Rules and alleged that the contact constituted a
violation of Rule 7.09 (Interference by a batter or runner). The umpire-in-chief and the
District 3 staff stated that play will resume and no protest will be filed. Despite the fact that
both runs had been placed on the score board and in the score book, Bridgeport was not
allowed to continue batting and was charged with its third out, South Charleston went to
bat, both Bonamico and Drummonds’ runs were removed, and the score was erroneously
changed back to 5-5. At that time I tried to protest the game again but was told that we
needed to take the field and play ball. The official stated again no protest would be
accepted in the matter. At that point, Bridgeport felt there was no option but to resume
play. It was a hostile environment that was clearly created to intimidate the Bridgeport
team and fans. At this point, the safety of my players was a huge concern. The game had
been an emotional rollercoaster for my players and I did not want to subject them to any
show of violence or police interference. Officials made multiple threats of removing
parents, myself, our coach and our league president from the facility if anything else was
said about the matter. Police officers were at the park and more called to the park and
particularly asked for the names of our league president and me, identifying us as the
source of the trouble. The officers remained throughout the remainder of the game. They
also prevented our league president and me from any further contact with the umpires or
officials as they left the playing field and after the game, as they made an overt show of
“power” and “control” by sitting at a table just outside the concession stand with two police
officers standing at their guard. They stayed for a long time, conversing and laughing. This
was another example of the antagonist attitude displayed toward the situation.

After play continued, Bridgeport held South Charleston to no runs in the bottom of the
sixth. If the erroneous call had not been carried out, the game would have been won by
Bridgeport (7-5). Because of this error, the score was tied at the end of regulation, 5-5. The
game ended in the next inning with a score of 8-7 with South Charleston “winning.” As the
umpires went to exit the field, I once again told each of the four umpires before they left the
playing field that I wanted to protest the game. The umpires indicated that my protest
would not be accepted. They once again called down a representative of District 3 (Patty
Niewierowski) who stated that there would be no protest and the game was over and we
needed to leave.

The umpire in question (Mr. Lewis) had officiated numerous games throughout the baseball
tournament. Many homeruns were hit during various games with several exact and/or
similar “high-five” and celebratory gestures between runners, coaches and player-coaches.
No calls of interference, runner assistance or any other related calls or warnings were
made. It was only in this semi-final game, after a significant rally and finally lead change by
a team challenging the District 3 representative in the baseball tournament being officiated
by District 3 umpires did this issue come into play.

Before leaving the field, I tried to contact various Little League officials throughout
the state of West Virginia, who indicated that Bridgeport’s protest has to be accepted and
provided Bridgeport with instructions for filing the protest. I also tried to obtain phone
numbers for individuals out of the Southeast Region and Williamsport but was unable to
reach anyone and was told by officials of District 3 that they would not be in support of or
help in this matter during this time. I am in the process of obtaining my cell phone records
showing the numerous attempts to the numbers provided for these officials identified by
our District 5 administrator and the rule book that evening after the game and numerous
calls to 411 information for the same.

I feel this matter needs to be corrected so that we may right a wrong. This was clearly a
misinterpretation of a rule by the umpire and not a judgment call as stated by Mr. Lewis.
The rule clearly states this and I am asking that the Tournament Committee rule
accordingly.

I feel that Bridgeport should be awarded the win, as South Charleston, who was not
adversely affected nor disadvantaged in any way by the erroneous call, failed to score any
runs in the bottom of the 6th inning. Bridgeport is willing to waive its rights to the third out
in that inning, and leave the final score at 7-5.

I would like to thank the Tournament Committee for its quick and efficient handling of this
matter and trust that a decision will be made in the best interest of the children involved.

Sincerely,

Robert A. Marra II

Manager, Bridgeport Little League Baseball 10-11 All-

Stars

Cc: Donna Haines-Administrator-District 5 (West Virginia)

Jen Colvin-Regional Director-Southeastern Region