A lot of improbable things have happened since 1971.
None of them included an ejection of baseball coach George Gusman. That is, until today.
Gusman, who has coached from intermediate to varsity levels at Kamehameha and Saint Louis, was thrown out in the third inning as his Crusaders battled the Warriors on a hot, sunny afternoon at Ala Wai Field.
It wasn’t a blatant, animated ejection. But the scenario that led to it left Gusman, who officiates BCS college football games in the fall, with little option but to challenge the two-man umpiring crew.
The situation: Kamehameha at the plate, runners at the corners, one out. Ground ball to short. Toss to second base. Force out. Throw to first, high and late, runner scores from third base. But that’s where Gusman and his staff refused to yield ground. A Saint Louis assistant came onto the field to tell the field umpire that the baserunner forced out at second did not slide as required by rule, therefore interfering with the throw from second to first.
The umpires conferred for a quick minute, then told the assistant that the call would stand. There would be no inning-ending double play, and the first run would count. From that point, Gusman kept heckling “0 for 2” from the dugout, dissatisfied by what appeared to an easy, by-the-book call. The rule exists for safety reasons, it would seem, and that seemed to annoy the longtime coach as much as anything.
“The chief umpire said, ‘Knock it off.’ I said ‘0 for 2’ (again) and he tossed me,” Gusman said.
With that, the 1969 graduate of Saint Louis was done for the day, a goner in the top of the third inning. Did it feel weird?
“Yeah. I sat in the (nearby) pavilion by myself,” he said. “I wasn’t happy. I wouldn’t have been good company.”
Beyond the rough no-call, the Crusaders could have done much more. They had just one error, but it cost them at the worst time, causing an unearned run for the Warriors in the bottom of the sixth.
“What’s frustrating is we’ve worked on this, hitting the cutoff man, this week at practice,” Gusman said.
With that, the Warriors are 4-1-1 in the insanely difficult ILH. After all the adversity of firing their previous coach, Tommy Perkins, in the middle of preseason, then bringing in a new head coach, Kahi Kaanoi, they’re doing about as well as could’ve been expected.
“Our team, I think we’re finally beginning to gel,” senior pitcher/shortstop Li‘i Pontes said. “We’re executing, putting it on the field, not just at practice. All that we’ve been through brought us closer together. We keep moving forward.”
Kamehameha got a solid start from Kamaha‘o Arita (4 2/3 innings, two runs, four hits). Vance Miyamoto got the Warriors out of a jam in the fifth and pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit with two strikeouts and no walks to get the win. Kala‘e Holt got the final out for a save.
“It’s a confidence booster,” said Miyamoto, who went to a trusty curve ball for roughly “60 percent” of his 21 pitches. “In practice, we throw off-speed all the time. In my first outing, I had a hard time throwing it, so Coach Kahi and Coach Alika worked with me.”
It does not matter if he is a BCS official, this is not football! By him saying 0 for 2 is targeting an umpire! He been doing this for years and just because he got tossed for the 1st time he is crying foul! Unsportsmanlike, 15 yard penalty! lol
I was there…I know exactly what happened. The article is not accurate in the details of the ejection.
So “A Spectator” don’t leave us hanging. What did you observe happen?
So what was the rule that he was upset about, the base runner slid into second he didn’t go in standing up.
happened?
Ask Gusman if he told ump “What are you going to do when ump told him to knock it off?
I’m guessing the coach said a lot more than 0 for 2 to deserve a ejection. At least I hope so. If that’s all he said, then the ump is the one who should be reviewed.
As for the play itself, if the runner truly ran straight to the base without sliding, that is clear interference by today’s rules. I don’t know how they can miss that call. In the old days, our SS and 2B would aim straight for the runner’s face if they ran to second without sliding.
I think the article should have focused on the game and players….
Marvin Gaye hit it right on the nose! You test the ump and being cocky, then you deserve to be thrown out!
I’ve been to several ILH baseball games this year, and EVERY game I’ve been to, the umpire has had to warn both teams about their conduct in the dugout. This is ridiculous! Are the kids that uncontrollable? Or are the coaches encouraging this type of behavior?
Back in the day, someone would have gotten one in the ear hole for “popping off.” Nowadays “popping off” and “show boating” seem to be the norm. What’s with the Oakley’s being worn on the caps the entire game? And all the tape on the player’s wrists, not to mention the ridiculous use of eye black?
Coaches need to set better examples and not tolerate the crap that goes on. Just my two cents.
Ummm, you should see OIA games. It is even worse. I honestly think it is a sign of the times because the boys themselves don’t seem to take it personally when the other team does stuff. In fact its almost like they are trying to out-do each other when it comes to the show boating.
Good job coach, you let your team down. Wasn’t worth getting thrown out for that and so early but let’s just put it out there, St. Louis baseball runs a program of disrespect. Last year when they lost in the opening round of the state tournament, they were better than the other team, but their lack of respect of umpires and opposing teams leads them to play hot headed and LOSE! I’ve never seen a ILH program allow their players to show up umpires more than St. Louis! But Gusman lets that kind of behavior go which is condoning. This may be the first time he has been ejected but that by no means translates to him running a respectful program. Out with the old and in with the new!
ILH is a gauntlet. From Punahou, Kamehameha, Mid Pac, Iolani, and Saint Louis. Anyone can beat each other on any given day. It’s who will be hot at the end. I think Coach Gusman would be right to argue and complain that call if runner didn’t slide than he has a valid point. In a one run game that is big. Also, as a player you like to see the coach grumble a call. You feel he is protecting you as a player.
Arguing a call and standing up for your players is one thing. All coaches do it. But once the umpires discuss and make their decision, the arguing and grumbling needs to stop. If it’s a rules interpretation, then protest the call. If it’s a judgement call, then nothing can be done. Just gotta eat it and move on. Continuing to argue and making comments to the umps shows bad judgment and makes your players feel that you are out of control.
Falcon future, this ain’t about an OIA team. This is about St. Louis. Don’t throw other programs and leagues under the bus to downplay what happen yesterday. Very typical to cast blame elsewhere, doesnt take away what happen yesterday regardless of what you think OIA schools do
Does everyone know about the punk ass St.Louis parent that was threatening homeplate umpire by telling him “I know where u live”? Typical St. LOUIS!!!
Its a fact! Separate report made on that.
Marvin Gaye what’s going on: I’m sure Falcon Future will say its worst at OIA games!!!
@sad! I concur.
@A spectator you say you were there? prove it.
@Todde exactly.
@confused. You are confused, it’s the other way around. He went in standing.
@Marvin Gaye – you’re exactly right. “St. Louis”. There is a certain pride that a student gains by attending St. Louis and for whatever reason their parents seem to have that same attitude. It’s okay to have pride. But when you’re not humble, you turn that pride into arrogance.
@Hmmmm yes I concur. But media needs readers and readers = $
@coach/fan most valid point. Let the players play, fans cheer, coaches coach, officials officiate and adults please be adults. Bottom line.
@coach/fan it’s the generation. Coaches must set good examples. Most of all parents must set good examples. RESPECT.
@Falcon Future OIA, ILH, BIIF, MIL, KIF. No matter the league good apples and bad apples. It all starts at home.
@But the truth is, i guess. Everyone has a right to their opinion. Good points and not so good ones.
@just a thought. it is a gauntlet. Good completion makes the league stronger.
@opinion totally true.
Keep everything respectful and enjoy the competition. High school sports is geared for the student athlete. If kids are taught to do their best when challenged, no matter if they win or lose in a competition they come out as a winner. Coaches and parents are in a position to develop our kids into respectful young adults in our community. Keep in mind in 30 or 40 years these same kids will be our community leaders. We control our own future.
I was at game coach got tossed before that play that is why assistant coach went out to check with umpires on That call. The play he got tossed on was a close call at first where St Louis thought the runner was safe. I thought the runner beat the throw. A BETTER umpire who have said we might have missed the call and moved on . This umpire knows all the rules and after coach gets tossed. On the double play that you are talking about. I yell from behind plate Hey you know all the rules but now it’s a Judgment call what do you do. I said he is a disgrace and should not accept check for game and how could he live with himself. Plus added I have no respect you. Next inning I got asked to leave “rabbit ears” . After the game I walked up to umpire and said sorry I think he was Surprised because he didn’t look at he me as we Shook hands
Awesome Mike. Mahalo for the explaination.
Joe Concepcion…I was the umpire…I won’t comment about the game…but the article has the facts wrong.
These Saint Louis Articles get the most attention and comments. As the saying Goes “ When you can’t join them just talk S**t about them….lol.
Jealousy runs very deep against Saint Louis, from Coaches, Parents and sadly players.
Just remember, if by any chance one of these boys make it big at the next level or even MLB. We as a state will somehow unite and cheer and give them all our Aloha… Because that kid is from Hawaii, same thing would happen for any kid from any school in any sport. #Mariota #Tua and many more..
So let’s go easy on the boys…
#LiveAloha # TuaAndMariotaMyCousin
You bark at an official you take a chance of being tossed. Which he did. So what is the big deal? The question you should be asking is how does 1 unearned run cost you the game? Really!!!!!!
What was the score of this game? Nice reporting.