Brian Rosener is the keeper of the Semoball Cup which is presented to the school with the most successful season. It is based on a formula that takes into account the combined winning percentage of all sports teams plus bonus points for advancement in postseason play for both teams and individuals. The bonus points are divided by the number of teams a school fields. Rosener has been the sports editor for the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, Mo. since December 2001. He was born and raised in St. Louis, where he attended Lindbergh High School and Webster University. He is married to Jennifer, a Poplar Bluff native, has a son Jack and a dog named Satchel who stands in for his @semoballBrian photo.

Widcats hold on with wild ending

Posted Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at 2:10 PM

Bloomfield pitcher Paul Fox, left, and Clearwater's Cory Devenport race to first base in the seventh inning Tuesday in Charleston. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Brian Rosener)

The final out at the MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 semifinal Tuesday between top-seeded Clearwater and fifth-seeded Bloomfield has generated some buzz. First, here's what I wrote in today's DAR:

CHARLESTON -- It took a wild final out, but the Bloomfield Wildcats held on to upset top-seeded Clearwater in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 semifinal.

The Tigers appeared to have tied the game with two outs in the bottom of the seventh Tuesday when Cory Devenport was called safe at first base. Moments later, however, the game was over with Bloomfield advancing to the final with a 5-4 win.

"These guys have learned to be mentally tough throughout the year and that's why they're getting to play for a championship on Thursday," Bloomfield coach Jason Karnes said.

The Wildcats (14-6) won their 13th straight by jumping out to early leads of 2-0 and 5-1 before holding off Clearwater's late rally.

The final out came on a reversed call at first base.

"You hate for games to end on plays like that but that's not the play that beat us," Clearwater coach Joey McAlister said.

After scoring two runs with a two-out rally in the sixth, the Tigers put the tying run on second with one out in the seventh.

A flyout to center brought up Devenport, the No. 9 hitter. The sophomore hit an 0-2 pitch off the end of his bat for a slow roller that the first baseman had to scoop up. With lefty pitcher Paul Fox landing toward the third-base side, it made for a close play as the first baseman flipped the ball to the bag. Fox and the ball got there first but his foot kicked up dirt as he reached for the bag and Devenport stepped on Fox's foot before both fell to the ground.

After a safe call by the field umpire, pinch runner Devin Carter crossed the plate as the tying run and another runner moved to third base. But the call at first was reversed minutes later when the two umpires got together to review the play.

"I thought he got there and touched the bag with his foot," Karnes said of Fox, who earned a four-out save.

...

As you can see from the photo, the play was close.

The question was if the fielder touched first base. In the photo you can see that he kicked up some dirt while reaching his foot for the bag. That dirt probably kept the field umpire from seeing if Fox touched the bag. (The angle on the photo is from the third-base side, not the umpire's view). The umpire called what he saw then, after the play was over, went to the home plate umpire to check to see what his partner saw. His view might have been better looking down the line from behind.

In the photo taken after this one you can see Devenport stepping on Fox's foot.

Coach Karnes probably had the best view from his angle in the first-base dugout but Coach McAlister summed up the situation best.

One play does not make a game, nor does one game make or break a season. The playoffs, however, seem to magnify them because of the finality of it.

Clearwater had a great year. During the spring and fall the Tigers were 33-7. In this game, they didn't get some key hits with RISP, leaving 11 stranded. Part of that was Bloomfield's defense, which turned two double plays and seemed to be all over the place. Also, to second-guess the choice starting pitcher seems a waste of time because even Cy Young lost 316 times and it takes more than one pitcher to advance in the playoffs the way the system is set up.

Bloomfield, meanwhile, is not your typical fifth seed. The Wildcats have had a great run, winning their 13th in a row, and will play for a district title at 4:30 p.m. Thursday against host Charleston.