March 19, 2009

Lady Tide falls 3-1 to Poplarville

by Carey Meitzler

Poplarville--The Lady Tide suffered a 3-1 loss to Poplarville that could have easily turned into an extra inning game if not for

some questionable calls by the umpires at critical times in the Region 8-4A game. 

Both pitchers, Picayune sophomore Jessie Frierson and Poplarville senior Megan Ladner, were giving the fans a great game until

things suddenly turned in the bottom of the fifth.  Picayune scored a run in the top of the third on a Lady Hornet throwing error

and Poplarville scored in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single with two outs to tie the game at 1-1.

Photo by John Young

Tiffany Devore tags out Poplarville's Megan Ladner at second base.

In the bottom of the fifth, Picayune appeared to be out of the inning on a grounder fielded by Frierson who threw to

first base where Hillary Dickens caught the ball and momentarily looked for the bag with her feet and finally kicked

it a good step before the Lady Hornet runner crossed the bag.  However, Dickens took a swipe tag at the runner and

the umpire must have thought Dickens actioned were her attempt to record the out.  The umpire, who was positioned

across the infield near third base, ruled the runner safe allowing a Hornet runner who was on third to score rather than

ending the inning at first base.

After the play concluded, Picayune's Head Coach Kristi Mitchell came out to discuss the call with the umpires, first talking to

the base umpire who made the call.  When Mitchell moved her discussion to the home plate area to discuss the call with that

umpire, the base umpire ejected Assistant Coach Courtney Dickens, who did not appear to say or act in a unprofessional

manner. At this point, the base umpire became involved in a heated discussion with a fan in the bleacher area and the fan,

Brian Dickens, was asked to leave the stands by the umpire who asked for security to be summonded to the field.

After play was resumed, Picayune got the third out on a ground out.  Later, Poplarville added a run in the bottom of the

sixth and eventually won the game 3-1.