Should there be instant replay at the WCWS?
This year, the Women’s College World Series has been filled with plays at the plate. All of the calls have not been overturned despite coaches pleading for the umpiring crew to discuss it.
It all started with a play at the plate in the first game of the Women’s College World Series. UCLA was playing LSU and Rachel Garcia rounded third and was sent home. LSU catcher Sahvanna Jaquish tagged her at the exact same time as Garcia touched the plate. She was called out.
Then, it happened again. LSU’s Constance Quinn was sent home on a play that was not even close. This time, the home plate umpire called obstruction and Quinn was called safe. LSU won the game 2-1.
It doesn’t stop there. Oklahoma scored early in its first game against Baylor when Fale Aviu used some fancy footwork to deke out Sydney Christensen. At first glance, it appeared Aviu ran out of the baseline in order to avoid the tag and her feet ended up in the far batter’s box when she dove back to touch the plate. She was called safe and there was no discussion.
Three plays on the first day. That sparked a conversation based on one question between Fastpitch News and several coaches at the WCWS. Should there be instant replay in college softball especially in Oklahoma City?
“It’s something that I’ve actually talked about. I’m not saying everywhere because we want to keep the timing going but the plays at the plate are becoming very critical,” said UCLA head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. “Major League Baseball is getting it right to be able to make sure they are getting the right call. There’s always going to be people on the plus side or the opposing but I think where we are and because the stakes are high, everyone has worked too hard to get to this point in the season. We want the right call more than anything and I would be an advocate for that.”
Another coach that is on board with instant replay is Oregon’s, Mike White. In Sunday’s semifinal contest against Oklahoma, Lea Wodach laid down a bunt that was in foul territory but was called fair. Oregon catch Gwen Svekis, picked up the ball because it was live and the ball went wide of the bag, putting Wodach on second. Oklahoma went on to score three runs that inning and won the game.
“I think this tournament has really illustrated it, is the need for the ability to make a challenge,” said White. “There have been so many games decided by some calls that could have gone –I think were incorrect calls to be quite rank, and that made a big difference. This game is played at a high speed. Umpires are human. You should have the ability to challenge a call.”
LSU’s head coach Beth Torina is also an advocate for instant replay while some coaches like Florida’s Tim Walton doesn’t think it’s about instant replay. It’s about safety and education.
“I think it’s about education,” said Walton. “Major League Baseball went to a different process when it came to the obstruction kind of play. If we could get someone to educate and some kind of instructional video on what obstruction is and isn’t and where the catchers are supposed to set up when the ball is in the outfield and when it’s in the infield, then that will clear up everything.”
For the time being, umpires are human, they make mistakes. But how many more games are going to be decided with a play at the plate before the NCAA decides to add a form of instant replay to the game? If the coaches are for it, then why hasn’t it happened?
There are possibly three games left in the WCWS. Florida will take on Oklahoma in a best-of-three Championship Series starting Monday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
