After a review of evidence it has been determined that Summit High School violated the CIF Southern Section Softball Playoff Bylaws as they regard pregame batting practice prior to their wild-card-round Division 4 contest versus Rancho Verde High School.
Due to this self-reported violation Summit will forfeit their win. Rancho Verde, will now advance to the first-round of the playoff s at Banning High School on Thursday, May 2.
This decision was based on the CIF-SS Bluebook Bylaw 2622.2 that states:
Teams entered in the softball playoff s will NOT be permitted to take batting practice on the day of a playoff game prior to the commencement of the contest or during the contest. (See playoff bulletin for definition of batting practice.)
The CIF-SS Softball Playoff Bulletin states the following:
PRE-GAME BATTING PRACTICE – Includes bunting or slap hitting. Teams entered in the softball play-
offs WILL NOT be permitted to take batting practice on the day of the scheduled contest. Batting practice is construed as any type of pitching motion with ANY type of ball from in front of the batter (including pitching
machines, underhand tossing, overhand throwing or pepper).
SIDE SOFT TOSS and BATTING TEES WILL BE ACCEPTABLE FOR PREGAME BATTING WARMUP.
The player who tosses the ball must not be standing; they must be sitting or on a knee directly to the side
facing the batter. The ball should be lifted, not pitched, to the batter. Coaches are responsible for instructing
and alerting all players of this rule. Coaches should also instruct players on the correct allowable position a
person tossing ball should be in. At no time should the person tossing the ball be any place other than directly
to the side of “plate” and directly facing the batter.
THE PENALTY FOR BATTING PRACTICE WITH A WIFFLE BALL, SOFTBALL, BASEBALL, ETC. MAY BE FORFEITURE OF THE GAME.
CIF Section-Ford Division 4 Softball Championship playoff s culminate with title game action on May 17 or
18 (date TBD) at DeAnna Manning Stadium Stadium at Col. Bill Barber Park in Irvine.
This article was released by CIF-SS.