This was a truly weird and controversial way for a Little League World Series regional game to end.
Here’s the breakdown: Oregon and Washington were tied up at two runs apiece at the bottom of the seventh. Washington had a runner on first, when the batter hit a ball down the third-base line.
The umpire clearly signaled a foul ball, but the runner came home with the winning run to send Washington on to the next round.
Umpires claimed that the call on the field was a fair ball — huh? — and there wasn’t evidence on replay that it could be overturned.
Sure enough, game over when it was ruled a fair ball:
This was so weird
Washington advances to the Little League World Series because umpires say they called fair even though there was a foul ball signaled pic.twitter.com/rsFURks1Y5
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 12, 2022
This is so bad. Washington advances to Williamsport even though there’s a lot happening here, so basically the umpire called this a foul ball but then he said he ruled it fair which meant the winning run scored from first for Washington, its a lot to unpack but pain for Oregon. pic.twitter.com/vpbqODk4lt
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) August 12, 2022
People reacted
I just saw a Little League team get completely JOBBED Minnesota Vikings style. 3rd base ump calls grounder foul, rolls to the corner, the Oregon LF stops.
Meanwhile, the home plate ump says it was fair, Washington runner on 1st keeps running and scores.
That's terrible.#LLWS
— Will 🎙 (@willTCradio) August 12, 2022
Oregon be Washington regional #LLWS final was the worst ending to a game I’ve ever seen. Umpire puts his hands up calling a foul, defense stops playing it. Runner scores from first. Somehow it was called fair by another ump?? Run scores
— Nick Tabak (@Back_Tabak) August 12, 2022
Anybody else just see #Oregon get robbed vs #Washington with the #LLWS on the line? Umpire calls foul, but says fair, Oregon doesn't continue the play & Washington scores. Review shows clear foul ball.
Horrible way to end a kids dream.
— The Voice of Reason (@SportsAndStock1) August 12, 2022
Quite an ending in the Oregon Washington #LLWS game. Clearly a foul ball, called fair for the walk off.
— Bryan B (@BryanB4Me) August 12, 2022
My humble opinion on the Oregon vs Washington game. A ball that hits in fair Territory FIRST then passes over any part of the bag is a fair ball no matter where it lands after the base. However the 3rd base ump throwing his hands up signals foul and the play should’ve been dead
— Chandler Bing (@SliimeCody) August 12, 2022
What a trash call to end the Little League World Series play-in game between Washington and Oregon. Umpire clearly called the ball foul (2 feet outside of the line) but they allowed the run to score then somehow called it a fair ball.
— Howie (@HowieDittman) August 12, 2022
