Baseball Bulletin - 18-1

Ohio High School Athletic Association                                     Dan McGinnis

Baseball Bulletin                                                                               Director of Officials Development – Baseball

January 29, 2018              Bulletin 18-1                      dan.mcginnis@hotmail.com

·         The online meeting for baseball will be available the first Week in February.  Last day for the meeting is March 7^th.  To find the link to the meeting, you must navigate the OFFICALS HOME PAGE from the “officiating” page at www.ohsaa.org. You will need to indicate your officiating permit number. You may also access both the online meeting and listing of face to face meetings from your myOHSAA account.   On myohsaa you will enter the meeting on the page prior to your login.

·        Our first face to face state meetings were held this week in Zanesville and Columbus.  Upcoming state meetings are:

Tuesday, January 30 – Zanesville – High School – 1701 Blue Ave

Thursday, February 1 – Columbus – OHSAA Office – 4080 Roselea Place

Tuesday, February 6 – Jackson – High School – 500 Vaughn St.

Thursday, February 8 – Monroe – High School - 220 Yankee Rd.

Tuesday, February 13 – Canton – McKinley High School – 2323 17th St. NW

Thursday, February 15 – Cleveland - Garfield Heights High School – 4900 Turney Rd.

Tuesday, February 20 – Piqua – Upper Valley Career Center – 8811 Career Dr.

Thursday, February 22 – Findlay – Donnell Middle School – 301 Baldwin Ave.

Each meeting will feature sessions of about two and a half hours and in addition to the state meeting will review the most important items that we want to cover prior to the 2018 season.  By attending the entire session, you will receive credit for a local meeting in addition to the state baseball meeting

·         A message to all OHSAA officials who hold BOTH a baseball and softball permit and also to all local association secretaries for each of these sports.  As we did last year, OHSAA  requires umpires holding permits in both sports to attend four local meetings for baseball and four local meetings for softball.  Local Associations will no longer be permitted to offer meetings that give credit for both sports in a single session.  There will be one exception to this provision as each local association will be able to conduct one meeting that covers OHSAA regulations and other items that are common to both sports.  Officials will be able to attend only one of these meetings and those who do so will receive credit for a meeting in both baseball and softball.  An official attending one of these meetings would then have to attend at least three additional baseball meetings and three additional softball meetings to meet the attendance requirements for each sport.  All local associations offering these "dual credit" meetings may offer only one such meeting per year and will be required to follow an agenda and PowerPoint provided by OHSAA.

·         NFHS decided to change their nomenclature around R1, R2 and R3 in the Casebook.  R1 is now a runner on first base, R2 runner on second and R3 the runner is on third.  Since the Blue Book is only published every other year, these changes needed to be made online.  All three mechanics have been updated online and can be downloaded and reviewed.  All three can be found going to this link and the Blue Book is also included: http://www.ohsaa.org/Officiating/DOD

·         There are three state two man clinics available for this year.  It is a good idea every few years to go to a clinic to make sure that we are doing things the proper way.  Another benefit is to have video of your plate work.  We all fall into ball habits and sometimes this can only be seen on video.  On the bottom are the registration forms.  Hope to see you there.

·         As mentioned in the preseason flyer in your packet, we will be offering a Rules Test beginning in mid-February going till mid-March.  Here you will have an opportunity to get additional credit toward you 2019 rating.  For more information refer to the preseason newsletter.

·         The pitching rule with regards to pitch count.  It is the coach’s responsibility to monitor the pitches and to manage their pitching staff.  We do not count pitches.

Behind the Mask

·         As we get ready for the upcoming season make sure that you go over the proper two man mechanics.

·        We are emphasizing on a triple where the base umpire comes into the infield, he will take the BR around to third.  This is the only change in the two man mechanics.

·         Hybrid pitching position. It is either a ball or a balk. 

·        At the pre-game conference, make sure that you mention to the coaches that all non-adult shaggers must have a helmet on when retrieving ball within the confines of the playing field.  Yes players are non-adult shaggers.

·        A player with a glove protecting the catcher in the bull pen does not need helmet, they have a glove!

·        Wrist bands are to be worn on the wrists. Not the belt.  Period.

·        Yes the third to first move is still legal in high school baseball

·         When in the B or C position at the time of the pitch, hands on knees.

·        Remember we are on video, answer the coaches’ questions when asked, you are not going to change their minds.

·        With potential weather coming in, make sure you enforce the lightning and thunder rule.  Thirty minutes after the last lightening or thunder.  Leave the field and go to your car or locker room.  Safety is job 1.

·        Hustle while on the field.  Going from A to B after a walk, jog to B.

·        Between innings, plate goes down and stands on the line, base umpire go to outfield.

·        Base umpire counts pitches on a pitching change.

·        Keep the batter in the box!  They have to have one foot in….