News
National Federation Adopts Pre-Pitch Sequence in Baseball
Adjustment Made to Pre-Pitch Sequence in High School Baseball
Adjustment Made to Pre-Pitch Sequence in High School Baseball
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (July 23, 2021) — High school baseball pitchers who do not receive signals from the catcher must now simulate taking a sign with one foot on the pitcher’s plate before proceeding with a pitch.
This addendum to Rule 6-1-1 was the lone rule change forwarded by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Baseball Rules Committee and was subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors. The baseball committee’s annual rules meeting was held June 6-8 in a virtual format.
A pitcher leaning forward to receive a sign from the catcher is fundamental to the pre-pitch phase of the game as it indicates to both the batter and the players in the field that the ball is about to be put in play and is the typical signal for any runners on base to begin taking their leadoffs.
Further, most high school baseball coaches deliver their defensive play calls – including pitch selections – from the dugout, which allows a pitcher to throw toward the plate abruptly (“quick-pitch”) and catch opposing batters by surprise. This new mandate within Rule 6-1-1 forces the pitcher to pause, providing ample time for all participants to prepare for the pitch.
“While this rule change might appear to be a small change, the significance of what it represents is huge!” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and student services and liaison to the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee. “We have been extremely fortunate that our Baseball Rules Committee recognizes that the high school game is in wonderful shape and that is because our coaches and umpires around the country teach the necessary skills and arbitrate the appropriate rules to make the game fun, exciting and educational.”
The NFHS Baseball Rules Committee also spent part of its rules meeting compiling its Points of Emphasis (POEs) for next season. The five POEs, which prioritized healthy and safety and sportsmanship during the 2022 season, are as follows:
- Monitoring Excessive Celebration
- Wearing Equipment as Intended by Manufacturers
- Safety of Coaches Sitting on Buckets Outside Bench/Dugout Area
- Umpiring Procedure for Lodged Ball
- Sportsmanship
“Points of Emphasis are used in an educational setting and fashion,” Hopkins said. “The rules committee is telling the baseball community that these topics – elaborately choreographed celebrations, wearing of equipment inappropriately, sitting on buckets, understanding the lodged ball and a call for increased positive sportsmanship – are paramount in education-based athletics. This is a wonderful game that allows an abundant number of participants to find a role on the team, and we want students to want to play for their school and be a part of something bigger than themselves.”
A complete listing of the baseball rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Baseball.”
According to the most recent NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, baseball is the fourth-most popular sport for boys with 482,740 student-athletes in 16,170 high schools nationwide. The survey also indicated that 1,284 girls across the country play high school baseball.
Colerain Announces 2021 Athletic HOF Class
Colerain Press Release:
Colerain High School is excited to announce the new Hall Of Fame class for 2021. At halftime of the Colerain St.X football game on August, 27th Colerain High School will induct these 5 individuals and the 5 individuals from the 2020 Hall Of Fame class.
Here are the 5 members from 2020. Joe Schweitzer, Ashley Wanninger Vice, Lauren Weaver, Coach Steve Tapogna, and Eric Fitzpatrick.
Now for the 2021 Hall Of Fame Class.
Don Strunk – Class of 1973 – Don was a member of the cross country and track programs where he earned All League and All City honors in both track and cross country under coach Ken Meibers. He helped lead the Flying Cardinals to the League and Sectional Titles in 1972. At one point, he held 5 school records. During his junior and senior years, he qualified for the State Championship and earned All State honors his senior year. Upon graduation, Don went on to Hanover College where he was a member of their two Conference Championship and National qualifying teams in 1974 and 75. This coming year, he will be starting his 45th year in teaching in the Cincinnati Public School District.
Bert Bertagna – Class of 1977 – a member of the Football and Wrestling teams, he is still recognized as one of the all time greatest lineman in school history where he played both sides of the line under Coach Ben Hubbard (football) and Terry Bonta (Wrestling). In 1976, he was instrumental in helping the Cardinals share the League title, finished 3rd in the City and 5th in the State Polls with a 9-1 record. That year, he was selected All City, All County, All State and played in the East/West All-Star game. He went on to play for the University of Pittsburgh who went on to finish #2 in the the country. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.
Seth Byers – Class of 2002 – considered one of the greatest soccer players to put on a Cardinal jersey, Seth was a four year starter and a captain his junior and senior years under Coach Paul Reedy. He was a 3 – time First Team All GMC player, a 3-time All City First Team member, and earned all State honors his junior and senior seasons. He helped lead Colerain to a GMC and District title in 1998, and a GMC title 2001. He still stands as the All-time scoring leader for Colerain with 57. Upon graduation, Seth went on to play for the University of Wisconsin.
Andrea Maas – Class of 2003– Andrea is one of the most decorated distance runners in Colerain history under Coach Ron Russo. As a sophomore, she helped lead the Cardinals to their unprecedented, fourth straight Girls Division I State Championship in 2000 with a 13th place finish. She was recognized All State that season. In 2001, the Greater Miami Conference named her Runner of the Year in Cross Country and was the District Runner Up and Regional Runner Up on her way to a 10th place finish and earning First Team All State. As a senior, she was First Team All GMC, First Team All District, First Team All Regional and First Team All State. In Track, she was a three-time All GMC athlete, the 2002 District Champion in the 3200m run, and was a member of the 4X800m relay that earned All State honors in her last race as a Cardinal. She went on to become an All MAC runner in Cross Country for the Bobcats of Ohio University and was a member of their Championship team in 2006.
Samantha Morgan – Class of 2008– viewed as an outstanding volleyball player under coaches Missy Dornan, Elizabeth Firsich, Cortney Weinhemier and JoAnna Delong who was also a member of the fastpitch softball team under Tom Bolden, Samantha was a four time All GMC player who earned First team honors her junior and senior seasons along with All City and All District honors. She still holds the school record with Career kills with 775 and ranks second in season kills with 253. She went on to play for Niagara University and was a member of three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships. She received honors as the MAAC Libero of the Year in the Conference along with being distinguished for earning an NCAA record 130 straight matches with double digit digs in her four year career. She finished as Niagara's Career Digs Leader with 2,406.
Jenna Griffiths Selected as Mason Girls Lacrosse Head Coach
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mason Sports Information Director, Dan Hilen
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
The Mason Girls Lacrosse Program will have a new head coach next year. Jenna Griffiths has been chosen to lead the Comets (upon BOE approval) following the announcement that head coach Jim Davis was stepping down for personal reasons. Davis guided the Mason program for the past 6 seasons and finishes with a mark of 65 wins and 36 losses. This past spring he coached the Comets to their first-ever GMC title (shared with Sycamore), Regional Runner-up, and was named the league's Coach of the Year.
Griffiths comes to Mason after being a varsity assistant coach at Saint Ursula Academy in 2020-21. She has been True Ohio Girls Lacrosse head coach since 2018. Griffiths was also a varsity assistant at Loveland HS from 2012-2014.
“I am thrilled and honored to be the new Mason High School Girls Lacrosse head coach," said Griffiths. I would like to thank Athletic Director Scott Stemple and Principal Bobby Dodd for this opportunity. There is so much potential for this program and I am eager to meet the team to get started on preparations for the 2022 season!”
Griffiths is a 2008 graduate of Ursuline Academy and played her college career at Saint Francis University (2008-2012). She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and a Masters of Science from St. Josephs's University (2018).
BEST OF LUCK JENNA AND WELCOME TO COMET COUNTRY!
Numerous GMC Sport Athletes and Coaches Tabbed as Spring Sport All-Stars
With the Greater Miami Conference being one of Ohio's top leagues, it is understandable that each season as the Cincinnati Enquirer through Cincinnati.com releases its seasonal all-stars that the GMC is well represented. The spring of 2021 is no exception with multiple GMC athletes and coaches being honored as "the best of the best" across Greater Cincinnati.
To check out the entire listing of Cincinnati.com "Spring Sport All-Stars", check out the link below:
Cincinnati.com Spring Sport All-Stars 2021
Many thanks to the Cincinnati.com sports staff for their hard work and dedication in recognizing the efforts of these student-athletes and coaches.
In addition to numerous first team, second team and honorable mention selections, the GMC had seven athletes recognized as the best in their respective sports as well as three "Coaches of the Year".
"Athletes of the Year" were:
K.K. Mathis - softball (Lakota West)
Madison Roshelle - girls track (Princeton)
Annika Kinley - girls field event (Lakota West)
Vignesh Gogineni - singles tennis (Mason)
Sam King and Akshay Joshis - doubles tennis (Mason)
Megan Carroll - girls lacrosse (Mason)
"Coaches of the Year" were: Keith Castner - softball (Lakota West), Darren Braddix - girls track (Princeton) and Mike Reid - boys tennis (Mason).
Congratulations to all for a job well done!
Mason Announces 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Class
Mason Athletic Press Release:
