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A controversial balk call!!!
and Brett was right in the middle of it!!!

Game between the Curve and the Norwich Navigators
at Dodd Stadium - Tuesday 1st July 2003

Here are a few excerpts from the game reports, including the Altoona Curve web site
(1) "The Curve scored the only run it would need in the second inning without a hit.
Norwich starter Kevin Correia issued a one-out
walk to Brett Roneberg.
Roneberg stole second, went to third on a ground out, and scored on a balk by Correia"

(2) "Altoona's final run came in the ninth inning against reliever Jack Taschner.
Singles by Roneberg and Duffy set the table.
Paulino flied out to deep center,
Roneberg and Duffy both tagged up and tried to advance.
Roneberg made third, but Duffy got caught in a run-down between first and second.
Roneberg broke for the plate and scored when catcher Chris Curry mishandled a throw to the plate from second baseman Ramon Soler"

(3) "The Altoona Curve shutout the Norwich Navigators 5-0.
Kevin Correia balked home what proved to be the winning run in Brett Roneberg in the 2nd inning"

(4) "Offensively, 1B Brett Roneberg scored a manufactured run in the second inning.
After receiving a one-out walk from Norwich RHP Kevin Correia, Roneberg stole second, moved to third on a ground out, and drew a balk from Correia to score the run"

but the newspapers in the Norwich Navigators' area had a lot more to say about it!!!

Gators Balk, Then Blanked
Controversial Call Sparks Altoona As Norwich Bats Fall Silent
Brett Roneberg's powers of persuasion worked wonders on third base umpire Darren Hyman on Tuesday - and gave the Norwich Navigators fits.
Roneberg scored in the second inning on a delayed balk call
, the only run the Altoona Curve would need - although they scored four times the last three innings - to beat the Navigators, 5-0, at Dodd Stadium.
Roneberg reached third base without the benefit of a hit.
He walked, stole second and advanced on a one-out groundout.
Then, with Norwich starter Kevin Correia facing a 2-2 count against Chris Duffy, Roneberg ran several steps down the third-base line faking a steal of home.
One of the infielders alerted Correia, who calmly stepped off the rubber and fired over to third.
As Roneberg retreated back to third, he yelled to Hyman: “That's a balk.”
And Hyman agreed, awarding him home.

Norwich manager Shane Turner ran out to argue the call as a bewildered Correia stood on the mound, repeating his step off in a futile effort to demonstrate he didn't balk.
After the game, Turner was just as adamant that Hyman made a mistake.
“I just looked at the tape,” said Turner. “It wasn't a balk. (Hyman) tried to tell me he buckled his knee.
He didn't. He stepped off the mound just like he was supposed to.
I don't think (Hyman) saw anything.
I think when the runner came back yelling balk, I think he got thinking that something was funny.”
The play was not a pre-planned move by the Curve to catch Correia off guard.
Altoona manager Dale Sveum thought Roneberg was actually going to steal home.
“He sold me on it,” said Sveum. “That was just a player doing something on his own and it worked.”

It was more painful because Correia got Duffy to chase a high fastball for the inning-ending strikeout.
The run wound up being crucial because of the way Correia pitched and the way the Navigators didn't hit.

Navs shut out by Curve
The Navigators lost 5-0 to the Curve Tuesday afternoon, with three of those runs coming in controversial fashion.
The offensive letdown may have fueled a defensive breakdown in the ninth inning that led to what turned out to be an insignificant run.
With one out and runners on first and second, Altoona's Ronny Paulino flied out to center, deep enough for both runners to tag up.
Brett Roneberg was safe without a throw at third, but Chris Duffy got himself caught in a rundown between first and second.
As second baseman Ramon Soler chased Duffy back to first, Roneberg broke for home.
Soler's throw to the plate was unnecessarily rushed but catcher Chris Curry couldn't hang on to it anyway, allowing Roneberg to score.
It was indeed that kind of day defensively for the Navigators.
The Curve took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Roneberg walked, stole second, went to third on a groundout and scored on a controversial balk call against Kevin Correia by third base umpire Darren Hyman.

"He said I flinched before I stepped off," Correia said. "I didn't. All I did was step off."
Turner concurred with his pitcher.
"(Hyman) didn't call it," he said.
"(Roneberg) called it.
He turned and looked at the umpire and then he called a balk.
He said Kevin buckled his knee.
Unless he buckled his knee in a distinct motion, it's not a balk.
I don't know why he didn't ask for help.
I think they should ask for help anytime.
At least that way you have three chances of getting it right."

Email from Geoff - who was listening
Hi,
Just writing to say I heard all your baserunning.
Stolen base, plus during the run-down play, AND "peeing off the pitcher" and making him balk!!!
See you.

Email from Sharon - who wants everybody to be 'nice'!!!
Hey Brett.
Putting the pitcher off is not very sporting!!
I love it when you steal bases though - even the commentators reckon you have decent speed!!
I always thought you could run!!
See ya.
Love,
Mum.
......from Brett
Hi Mum.
Glad to hear that you like hearing me running all the time.
I like doing it, I must admit.
Just don't like getting thrown out though!!!
Love,
Brett.
......from Sharon
All that controvesy - and the poor guy didn't do anything wrong!!
I still don't think it's "cricket"!!
See ya.
Love,
Mum.

Email from Tanya - quoting from the movie, "The Rookie"
Hey,
were you calling out from the base - "We wanna pitcher, not a belly itcher!"
Is that how you put him off?
Tanya

A note from Larry Gallagher, Brett's ex-High School Principal
and an Umpire in the Cairns Baseball League, having officiated in many of Brett's games over the years

Geoff
You know I don't normally reply to your emails (even though I read them regularly).
However, I just had to in this case because I was ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED to find that Brett would do something to deliberately try to confuse an umpire.
Did you not teach that boy anything??
Good story, but glad it wasn't me on third base line!
Larry
......and a reply to Larry
Hi Larry - and that's a great note!!!
I think a fitting punishment would be for Brett to clean the Umpire Crew's shoes for a week!!!
I listen to his game coming through live everyday.
And there is regular controversy!!!
Both on the bases and the balls/strikes calls.
Arguements and Ejections!!!
It's funny though.
Not once have I heard an umpire say I will change my call because the runner said he was safe!!!
Or that wasn't a strike out because the batter said it was a ball!!!
Fun to listen to, and the Curve have a great radio announcer who puts a "lot of feeling" into his game commentary.
All the best - nice to hear from you.
Geoff - "Ex-Umpire"


......and finally a word from Brett
Just faked like I was going to steal home.
He then stepped out the correct way,
and I said to the umpire "that's a balk" - and he said, "yes, that's a balk"!!
- and he really didn't do anything wrong!!
Was pretty funny in the dugout