Little League teams gets warned by the umpire for stealing signs, a breakdown
What Happened
In a tense Little League World Series regional elimination game between Oklahoma and Texas West, tensions rise in the top of the fourth inning. With two runners on base, the second baseman for Texas West is spotted signaling pitch information to the batter. Umpire Chad Brannon notices the illegal sign stealing and calls the players over for a warning. Texas West coach Javier Gonzalez protests, arguing that the second baseman was simply adjusting his cup, not relaying signs. However, Brannon insists the sign stealing is against Little League rules and issues a warning. The Texas West players reluctantly agree to keep their hands behind their backs while on base. The game continues, with Oklahoma pitcher Ethan Nguyen striking out the Texas West batter to end the inning. As Oklahoma comes up to bat in the top of the fifth, the drama continues. The leadoff batter, Liam Avery, draws a walk and reaches second base. When the next Texas West pitcher hits the following batter, Bryce Hernandez, the umpires suspect more sign stealing attempts. After several pitches with the runners on second and third, Brannon calls time and has a lengthy discussion with the coaches. He ultimately ejects the Texas West manager, Robert Sanchez, for continued sign stealing infractions. Sanchez protests the call, making the "P" sign in the sky, but the umpires uphold the decision. With the Texas West coach gone, the game resumes. Oklahoma's Ethan Nguyen then steps up and crushes a go-ahead grand slam, putting his team up 4-3. The Oklahoma dugout and fans erupt in celebration as Nguyen rounds the bases. The intense back-and-forth continues, with the lead changing hands multiple times. Ultimately, Oklahoma prevails in an extra-inning thriller, though the sign-stealing controversy proved costly for Texas West. This dramatic Little League matchup showcased the high stakes and emotions of elimination-round play.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentThe hottest thing in baseball. This is like the fifth video I've made about teams relaying signs from second only this time it's in the Little League World Series the regionals for the World Series Oklahoma versus Texas West in an elimination game in the top of the fourth inning. There's two runners on there's a runner on second. We get two pitches a strike and then a ball the one one pitch is fouled away and then this pitch is about to be thrown
and they say no no no no no no no no no no pause pause pause second base umpire is going to walk in he's going to say hey everyone huddle around me I've got some drama for you this kid on second he's telling the batter what pitch is coming where it's coming is that legal they're like no it's I don't that's doesn't seem cool it seems unsportsmanlike for Little League like okay that's what I thought you can hear him say to the coach
he's signaling the batter what pitch is coming the coach is like wait what are you talking about how do you know he's doing that kid at seconds like uh readjust his cup that transcends all levels of baseball as well he's like what do you mean he's brushing his leg he how do you know he's doing that and not something else he's like well come on it's baseball and I'm watching him and he's like there's nothing against the rules about that and they're like no it is against the rules in Little League you're not allowed to do it umpire says it's a warning so he said it kid on second is like all right
fine I won't itch my thigh anymore hands behind the back as he leans in not me I'm not doing a thing we got a one two pitch there's two on there's two outs and Oklahoma is down okay ball two oh ball three full count fastball down the middle strikes them out ends the inning oh we don't know what we're doing okay we're celebrating they're pushing each other because boys will be boys top of the fifth inning
Oklahoma is batting again it's a 3-1 pitch a walk so the leadoff runner gets to first base when he gets to second things will get interesting will he get to second next batter is up he takes the 1-1 pitch off the helmet so that sends him to first and now we got another runner on second base what does this mean what's going to happen first pitch ball next pitch ball next pitch ball next pitch ball next pitch ball
so there were strikes involved he got full count but we've got bases loaded now and now this kid goes to second base and a home run would give Oklahoma the lead because they're down three and the first pitch inside next pitch even more inside now the next pitch we're going to get the signal from the catcher he puts down one finger and then umpire says no no no no no
oh and now they're saying he was sick that's another one look at the
motion he's doing this hand kid on second it's like what he says that's another one that's twice what are the rules say and all the umps are like I don't know I don't know I don't know what are the rules say that I come back coach come back coach like okay you have them given signals again he's like he's going to check the rule book because I don't think I don't think you guys are right and they're like no no I saw it he's given signals and I'm mad about it kid on second follows his other teammates so just hands behind the back I'm not doing a thing but he was and they have to
stay on the base they're not allowed to take the lead so they just have a perfect view of the catcher I mean that's the fastball signal you know and umpire sees it calls time and he's going to say nah I don't like it at all and here it is just looks like he's doing a fish swimming because it's very loose but that's the fastball signal now the crowd gets a little out of hand it's literally okay now let's not taunt a 12 year old at second base crowd
folks it's a good time to remind everyone of sportsmanship yeah thank you yeah yeah yeah now we're going to clap at you guys getting in trouble sportsmanship now this goes to a lengthy review because they tell the manager he's ejected from the game he says I protest so he draws a P in the sky because that's the protest sign just like the Disney Channel commercials now if you're sitting there you're saying it's legal it's part of baseball there's no
nothing against relaying signs that's true in almost every level of the game besides Little League where in 2018 they had a notable rule change that said the stealing and relaying of signs to alert the batter of pitch selection and or location is unsportsmanlike behavior and if it happens in the judgment of the umpire those responsible will be ejected and then they updated it saying that the stealing and relaying of signs to alert the batter of pitch selection and or location on sports like behavior if in the judgment of the umpire
In Little League, this is against the rules.
You cannot do it, which is so hard because the kids can just see it.
So I feel like they're going to do it.
They keep talking.
They keep talking.
They keep talking.
They finally say, okay, kids, out of the cage.
You can play.
The game will resume.
Hope you guys behave.
And the coach comes out as well.
So he's not ejected.
He goes to the other team and he says, hey, man, I couldn't read his lips.
I don't really, but I'm guessing the gist is they can't do it again.
That's their first official warning.
The first wasn't official.
I don't know what he's saying.
Maybe, or maybe if the same kid did it twice.
No idea.
But basically, if they do it again, they're over.
Coach doesn't like it.
He's like, that's cheap.
I don't like it.
I want them gone.
I want them banished.
That signal.
I don't know what that was.
Coach, he's excited.
Ecstatic.
This is his happy face.
I'll prove it to you later.
He's still in the game.
Now, the play resumes after the lengthy delay.
It was 2-0.
Fouled back.
2-1.
2-1 pitch.
Here we go.
What do we got?
Inside.
3-1.
3-1.
He gets his pitch.
He absolutely clobbers it for the go-ahead grand slam in the top of the fifth inning.
After all that controversy, the dads are going crazy.
He's rounding the bases like he's done it a million times.
The players are going insane.
It's an elimination game.
What a moment.
What drama.
Fine.
They can't tell me where the pitch is coming or what pitch is coming.
I'll hit a grand slam anyway.
Coach, happy face.
There it is.
Go ahead, grand slam.
Ecstatic.
This game went on to be an epic.
They changed leads a bunch.
They went into extra innings.
And eventually, Oklahoma did win.
So, it did prove rather costly.