New Jersey Loses In Heartbreaking Fashion In The Little League Regionals But The Umps Got The Call Correct

I am THE biggest critic of umpires in The Little League World Series, and the regionals, state, and district tournaments leading up to it. 

Now I want it clear, I am not a critic of these umpires (who don't get paid) because of right or wrong calls (per se), I am a critic because the way they select these umps is a joke, a sham, and a money grab of all money grabs. The way it works is this. Umpires aren't selected based on merit, they are selected by those who attend one of the "qualifying camps" at $275 a pop, and then use them to umpire the biggest games of a kid's life. They also do this and not pay these umps despite having a $60 million dollar TV deal. Joke of all jokes. These parents and kids sacrifice their summer, their money, and their time traveling all over while teams make a run at the big show in Williamsport. When they get there they shouldn't have an unqualified umpire doing those games just because he paid into it for the last 3 years. Joke. Pay the umps, stop crying poor and give the kids a fair experience. 

Anyway, I hammer these umps relentlessly but these guys got it right. The rule is you cannot slide head first into a base (you can however slide BACK into a base headfirst). The kid should be called out, game over. Now you can argue that's a very dumb rule not to allow headfirst slides (they claim safety) and I would agree, but the way the cookie crumbles was New Jersey takes the L. Absolutely BRUTAL way to lose, but credit the umps for (finally) getting one right.