Welcome to Helter Skelter

The last time any Americans checked we live a free, democratic society - governed by rules and regulations.

It's kinda been that way for 233 years.

For many, you can thank Mssrs. Washington, Jefferson and Hamilton.

Plus, any of our military buried from Arlington National Cemetery to the beaches at Normandy, France.

Certainly in our civilized Western society, there are questions that beg to be asked.

Fortunately, there's a system of checks and balances in place to make sure we never revert back to being somebody else's colony.

From time to time in a free society questions arise that oppose the majority's thinking.

Do pro-Nazis have the right to protest in Skokie, Ill.?

I'd say are you flipping kidding me?

But according to our Constitution they can.

Can children wear T-shirts to school that blast the president?

It's a T-shirt? The shirt doesn't carry a megaphone.

But according to our Constitution they can.

Can disc jockeys spew vulgarities and obscenities over the radio?

It's not my cup of tea.

But they have. So it's up to the Federal Communications Commission to police the airwaves.

And then there's this little ditty about a Dixie Youth League Baseball National Commissioner from Texas named Wes Skelton.

Apparently, Mr. Skelton has never heard of Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. Or even the United States Supreme Court.

Or maybe he has.

Last Friday, Skelton acted as if he was the chief justice of the nine-member elite brethren.

I'm sure you know the guys. The ones with dark robes who traditionally meet in September and dole out rulings pertaining to specific conflicts (actually questions) within our Constitution.

According to Skelton's decision, he reversed two decisions - the umpire's and the Florida state official's - that impacted the outcome of the June 30 AAA Majors (ages 11-12) All-Stars baseball game between South Lake and Spring Hill National.

LET'S REWIND

This much we know about the game. In the sixth inning of a tied loser's bracket game, South Lake's Hunter Cowers crushed a pitch over the fence.

In the ensuing celebration, as the young Cowers rounded the bases he leapt over home plate.

Because he did not initially touch the plate, his teammates and his first-base coach apparently pushed him back to complete the trip.

At this point, Spring Hill National skipper Al Sorrentino asked the home-plate umpire, Tom Smith, if indeed Cowers 'had been assisted.' To make sure they were making the correct ruling, the umpiring crew got together - like all efficient crews do - and ruled that indeed the Lake County youngster was 'aided' as he touched home-plate and ruled out.

Dixie rulebook 7.09 states in Section I "if in the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base or first base by touching or holding the runner physically assists that runner in retuning to or leaving third base or first base the runner shall be called out."

As a result, Cowers' run did not count.

At that point, South Lake skipper Manny Mendoza protested the ruling on the field.

And though District Director Allen Kirkland was not on site, Spring Hill Tournament Director Jim Keith attempted to contact Kirkland but was unable to reach him. Instead, Keith contacted the Florida State Director Tony Smith. Smith was able to contact Kirkland and nearly an hour later, the officials upheld the original call and continued the game.

As it turned out, two innings later Sorrentino's son, Thomas, belted a walk-off solo homer as the West Hernando club won, 6-5. With the loss, South Lake was ousted in the double-elimination affair.

On their way out of the Anderson Snow Sports Complex, the disappointed South Lake fans vented their anger toward Coach Sorrentino.

In their eyes and estimation, what ghastly coach would ever defend his own team?

What creature would ask blue (the umpire) for a second opinion on whether a kid "was assisted" and heaven forbid what mentor would "take a homer away from a 12-year-old."

The fact of the matter is what Sorrentino did is what all coaches do all the time - defend their kids.

What coach doesn't work the officials in a basketball game? What coach along the sidelines doesn't dispense grief to the zebras during a football game? Ask Jon Gruden.

And what coach doesn't question a yellow card during a soccer match?

It happens.

Yet neither the game official's final call nor the state official's affirmation of that protested call was enough for South Lake's appetite.

Apparently, Lake County folks wanted an audience with the Pope - or at least somebody at the highest level in Dixie baseball. The fans believed the adult's decisions in Spring Hill "stole a homer" and "that it was home cooking."

South Lake folks, however, never looked in the mirror. Had the young Cowers simply stepped on the plate like everybody there would have been no beef.

The Lake County contingency continued to press Dixie officials for another look until Mr. Skelton and the national board of directors made their ruling on Friday. Yes, Friday.

In essence, Skelton dismissed Spring Hill's wins against South Lake and Oak Griner and allowed South Lake to return to action on Friday night against San Antonio.

After Mr. Skelton took the time to place South Lake back into the tourney, it took just over two hours Friday night for San Ann to eliminate South Lake again (this time for good), 11-9.

But in the process, Wes Skelton morphed into the comedian Red Skelton.

THROWING OUT THE RULE BOOK

Skelton's ruling was significant on so many levels - none of them being correct.

He could have done what so many organizations - like the NCAA - in similar instances have done.

Sympathize with the parties involved; consult with the officials and perhaps reprimand the proceedings.

He did none of the above.

In fact, he did not follow Section XI, paragraph D, of tournament rules which states, "After the completion of a game, there shall be no protest regardless of the circumstances involved with the exception of eligibility."

First of all, if South Lake protested the original call, the game should have been returned to that original point and started from there. Period.

Secondly, South Lake fans were rejoicing a homer. Yet there's no guarantee, however, that they would have won that game. Even when Mendoza's team had a chance to win the game, they failed to do so.

So, isn't that why Thomas Sorrentino's blast stands out? I guess there's no injustice there.

Third, vacating Spring Hill's wins by kicking them to the curb is one thing, but what about Oak Griner?

If South Lake was allowed to return to play, why not Oak Griner?

Most noticeably, Skelton circumvented his own Dixie rulebook.

Skelton allowed South Lake to reenter the tournament without regard to its pitchers' amount of innings used up to that point. That's never been done in these parts. And he also allowed South Lake's first-base coach to return after being ejected during Tuesday's game.

But perhaps just as glaring as all the above is why did it take Skelton two-and-half days after the local umpiring crew and state officials concurred on their rulings?

In essence, Skelton became judge, jury and executioner without regard to his own Dixie rulebook.
Skelton's reversal sets an unbelievably dangerous precedent.

span class="bold">WHAT'S NEXT?

Anybody with a beef can whine and cry about their son's or daughter's supposed injustices in what, two or three days? Heck, why not a week later?

Mr. Skelton's actions in this matter turned back the clock of Dixie baseball into the Stone Ages.

I guess no South Lake parent has ever been bypassed up for a job. Ever been left off a team because they chose someone else instead? Never gotten a bigger raise than the guy across the room?

Those are also injustices. But as adults, you learn when lemons are dealt; you make lemonade and move on.

As children, I'm sure the young Cowers will never ever jump over home plate again. Nor will any of his teammates.

What Skelton's ruling has done is pull the rug out from all of us. Why abide seat-belt laws, speed-limit signs and all the Dixie baseball rules?

A society without rules is anarchy.

A society without rules is Iran. Or maybe North Korea.

A society without rules is not what the Founding Fathers dreamed of. But it's what Skelton has created.

Seemingly in Skelton's world two wrongs must equal a right.

His ruling, however, has caused Helter Skelter.