A video going viral online has caused many to wonder if a high school softball catcher was purposefully hitting batters in the head with balls she threw from home plate.
Video of the game between McCamey High and Cicso High in Texas shows the girl catching her pitcher’s throw but then rising from her crouch to unexpectedly throw a brutal overhand toss directly at the opposing team’s batter, hitting her forcefully in the head.
Video shows two such incidents at the same game where this young woman rose from her catcher’s crouch to pelt a batter in the head.
KMID reporter Kayler Smith posted the two videos to Twitter on Wednesday:
First occurrence⤵️ pic.twitter.com/u59GncoCaE
— Kayler Smith – KMID (@KaylerSmithTV) May 10, 2023
As BroBible noted, it is possible that the McCamey Lady Badgers catcher was attempting to get an out by beaning the batter because she stepped out of the batter’s box. Indeed, some in the crowd can be heard yelling, “she’s out!”
The site pointed out that the vague rules that say that if a batter ” interferes with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base,” this can be called an out.
The site adds that McCamey seems to have engaged in this brutal blasting of batters in the past, too. And at least in one case, the team was awarded an out for the dirty tactic.
Many on Twitter agreed that the ball throwing at the batter was not only intentional by the catcher but was a dangerous team practice.
Whether attempting to get an out for batter interference and/or injure the batter, I think it’s safe to assume this is 100% intentional and definitely outside the spirit of the game. Bad look for the catcher, worse look for the coach who has to know exactly what’s going on.
— Uncle Pablo (@theunclepablo) May 10, 2023
I understand the 1st one. She’s checking the runner on third. She then argues w/ the ump trying to plead her case. The 2nd one though, runner was never stealing third, third baseman was in no way ready to catch a ball from the catcher & she casually walks over & grabs the ball
— Mason (@MasonInTexas) May 10, 2023
If that had been my daughter at bat, me and the catcher’s father would have had a serious “discussion” after the game, followed by one of my sons having a “discussion” with the catcher’s coach.
— Ken Clark (@QWKSLVR1999) May 10, 2023
It’s clearly intentional. It is a coached play. The intent is to catch the batter stepping out of the box and intentionally throwing at them under the guise of throwing to 3rd. Neither time does the 3rd baseman flinch. It’s akin to a sucker punch. It’s dirty and dangerous.
— Thomas Boulanger (@32CoachB) May 10, 2023
The University Interscholastic League has already announced they are looking at the video. One would think that a new rule will soon be handed down to make it a rules violation to purposefully bean a batter in the face with a ball thrown from four feet away. At least, one can hope.
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