Moorpark School District to appeal outcome of CIF-SS championship baseball game

Moorpark lost to Hart in the Division 2 final Friday after umpires ruled a hit a ground-rule double and not a home run in the final inning.

The Moorpark Unified School District plans to appeal the result of Friday night’s CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship baseball game, which resulted in a 7-6 victory in Hart’s favor.

“Moorpark Unified School District will appeal the final outcome …We will provide more information as this process moves forward,” the district said in a statement Saturday sent on behalf of Superintendent Kelly Hayes, Moorpark Principal Zaid Bakoo and Moorpark Athletic Director Robert Dearborn.

The appeal comes as a result of a judgment call made by the the game’s umpires in the seventh inning of the game. Taylor Busch hit a fly ball to deep left field with one man on base, and the hit was initially called a walk-off home run. Celebrations ensued until the three umpires, after discussing the play, ruled the hit a ground-rule double.

Hart held Moorpark hitless for the remainder of the inning to win the game 7-6 and take home the Division 2 title.

Taylor Busch (@Taylor_Busch16) crushes this one to left field that was initially a walk off home run but overturned into a ground rule double in the 7th. @MHSBaseballA41 (CA) 2025 #uncommitted

Profile: https://t.co/2VVQqADSvv pic.twitter.com/BHjZ5hU7qo

— Five Tool California (@FiveToolCA) May 18, 2024

“Instant replay is not allowed by rule in high school baseball,” the CIF-SS said in a statement Saturday. “It was a judgment call, and as such, it stands as final.”