Team Loses Championship After Uncaught Third Strike Due to Premature Celebration

The Pal-Mac Red Raiders ran the bases to score the tying and winning runs to earn a walk-off New York V-BI championship win over Hornell after an umpire ruled that Hornell's catcher failed to tag the batter-runner following an uncaught third strike with two outs in the final inning of play. Article: https://www.closecallsports.com/2023/...

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With two out and two on in a 5-4 game in the bottom of the 7th inning (NFHS/high school plays seven inning regulation games as opposed to nine), the home team's batter struck out looking. The visiting catcher, however, dropped the ball and the batter became a runner, advancing to first base on the uncaught third strike as the catcher scooped up the ball and lunged toward the batter-runner.

Instead of waiting for the home plate umpire's confirmation of a tag having occurred, the catcher went to celebrate with his team, the umpire giving a "safe" signal, the home team went on to score the tying and winning runs as the visitors celebrated in the infield a win that didn't actually happen.