The CIF-SS Division 2 final between Moorpark (Calif.) and Hart (Santa Clarita, Calif.) has become a headline-grabbing game that’s taking a controversial call to the national stage:<\/p>\n
Was it a home run? Or a ground-rule double?<\/p>\n
Watch the footage and you’ll see why settling on an answer isn’t\u2014at least to some\u2014the easiest of tasks.<\/p>\n
\nTaylor Busch (@Taylor_Busch16<\/a>) 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<\/a> (CA) 2025 #uncommitted<\/a><\/p>\n
Profile: https:\/\/t.co\/2VVQqADSvv<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/BHjZ5hU7qo<\/a><\/p>\n
— Five Tool California (@FiveToolCA) May 18, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Here’s a closer but slightly foggier look:<\/p>\n
\nUmpire down the line pointed fair. How did he not see it going over the fence. Didn\u2019t bounce. pic.twitter.com\/UvqVLSgxE3<\/a><\/p>\n
— Jay Ramirez (@coachjayramirez) May 18, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
While it looks like the ball cleared the fence and the third base umpire signaled that it was a home run, Taylor Busch’s hit was determined to be a ground-rule double, negating any walk-off dramatics and a CIF title for the Musketeers.<\/span><\/p>\n
The call left Moorpark with runners in scoring position and no outs\u2014which is not a\u00a0<\/span>bad<\/span> spot to be in when trailing by a run in the final inning (7-6)\u2014but overcoming the <\/span>elation<\/span>\u00a0of the game-winning blast and subsequent celebrations might have been too great of a burdensome scenario to overcome.<\/span><\/p>\n
Hart capitalized on the second chance\u2014also not an easy feat\u2014and recorded the next three outs to ensure the win. <\/span><\/p>\n
T<\/span>hat’s equally impressive, but the controversial call heavily overshadowed all of it.<\/span><\/p>\n
Would the CIF take a look and make the final-final<\/em> decision?<\/span><\/p>\n
As LA Times’ Eric Sondheimer<\/a> noted, Moorpark had not filed an appeal because that’s not a possibility under the guidelines …<\/p>\n
\nMoorpark is not appealing the umpire call Friday night vs. Hart because there is no appeal of judgment call, Moorpark AD Rob Dearborn said.<\/p>\n
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) May 18, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
That context, too, had been given a second look.<\/p>\n
From the Los Angles Daily News<\/a>:<\/p>\n
\u201cMoorpark Unified School District will appeal the final outcome \u2026We will provide more information as this process moves forward,\u201d the district said in a statement Saturday sent on behalf of Superintendent Kelly Hayes, Moorpark Principal Zaid Bakoo and Moorpark Athletic Director Robert Dearborn.<\/p>\n
But after all that\u2014much like the seventh-inning fireworks\u2014the call stood:<\/p>\n
\nStatement from Southern Section spokesman Thom Simmons on Moorpark-Hart baseball game. \u201cInstant replay is not allowed by rule in high school baseball. It was a judgment call, and as such, it stands as final.\u201d<\/p>\n