Little League baserunner continues to tell the batter that a fastball is coming, a breakdown
What Happened
In a dramatic moment during the Little League World Series, a baserunner is caught relaying the upcoming pitch to the batter, giving his team a clear advantage. Jacob Martinez, the runner on second base for the West team, is seen flicking his wrist in the catcher's sign for a fastball to his teammate at the plate, Liam Gonzalez. "Okay, next pitch fastball," Martinez says as he continues to signal the pitch type. Gonzalez takes the information and rips the fastball into the right-center field gap, clearing the bases and extending his team's lead. "They're making me stand here, I can see why would I not tell you? It sure seems like it's going to help us," Martinez justifies his actions, noting that the rules don't prohibit relaying signs. The opposing coach, Sarah Wilson, shakes her head in disbelief as her team surrenders the big hit. "Don't they just like, only throw fastballs?" the announcer questions, suggesting the baserunner's sign-stealing may not have been entirely necessary. However, on the very next pitch, the pitcher, Emily Ramirez, mixes it up and throws a curveball that the catcher can't handle, allowing another run to score. "I don't think you needed to relay the sign in fact, every pitch this inning was a fastball with the fastball sign, except this pitch which got the curveball sign," the announcer explains. Despite the baserunner's best efforts, the curveball still caught the offense off guard, proving that the sign-stealing wasn't as impactful as it may have seemed. The West team ultimately secures a more significant lead, thanks in part to the baserunner's unconventional tactics. As the game continues, the debate around the legality and ethics of the sign-relaying will surely be a topic of discussion among the players, coaches and spectators. Regardless, this moment in the Little League World Series has captured the attention of fans and sparked conversations about the balance between gamesmanship and sportsmanship in the sport.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentthe base runner was a spy we've got more peaks being sneaked in the little league world series
catcher puts down the one side runner gives the fastball signal just a flick of the wrist there
with the back of the fingers towards your batter takes it says okay next pitch fastball flick of
the wrist here it comes they're making me stand here i can see why would i not tell you it sure
seems like it's going to help us the rules do say it's legal one fastball okay oh two count but
another fastball is coming in this time bam slammed into the right center gap it's going to
get to the wall kicked around out there and that is going to unload the bases and give them an even
bigger lead let's go let's go now i know what you're thinking don't they just like kind of
only throw fastballs yes yes this pitcher primarily threw fastballs i don't think you needed
to relay the sign in fact
every
pitch
this inning was a fastball with the fastball sign except this pitch which got the curveball sign
he switches his grip to the curveball spikes it the catcher can't block it and a run scored
and that was the only curveball which if you had the sign it wouldn't even have made a difference