BREAKING NEWS: Northview coach Jeff Butler informed me that after discussing with school officials, they have decided not to file a protest.

NEW VIDEO: Video footage of Aquinas allegedly hitting off a tee in pre-game warm-ups prior to its 9-1 semifinal victory was sent to us today. Again, you be the judge, are players hitting off a tee?

Northview High School spoke with CIF-Southern Section officials today accusing Aquinas, who it lost to 9-1 in Tuesday’s CIF-Southern Section Division 5 softball semifinal, of conducting an illegal batting practice. If CIF determined an illegal batting practice took place, Aquinas would have to forfeit its victory. However, Northview only produced pictures, which I have obtained, but has no video evidence of Aquinas taking an illegal batting practice. Also, Northview never filed a formal protest with CIF officials, so it appears nothing will likely happen. But you be the judge, are these pictures enough? In the top photo Northview alleges this is a picture of an Aquinas player hitting off a tee. I can’t tell with certainty, the pictures are blurry. But it does appear the ball is stationary because the ball is in the hit-zone and the player still has the bat on her shoulders. But who knows, it could be an Aquinas player tossing the ball too. Those are just my observations. I never liked the rule anyway, but if you see it happening and believe you’ve caught a team violating it, get your video camera out.
The CIF-SS Softball playoff Bulletin states the following:
BATTING PRACTICE– Includes bunting or slap hittimg. Teams entered in the softball playoffs WILL NOT be permitted to take batting practice on the day of the scheduled contest. Batting practice will be 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). THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE BATTING WARMUP WILL BE SIDE SOFT TOSS.
The player who tosses the ball should be on a knee and to the side of the batter. The ball should be lifted, not pitched, to the batter. THE PENALTY FOR BATTING PRACTICE WITH WIFFLE BALL, SOFTBALL, BASEBALL, ETC. MAY BE FORFEITURE OF GAME.