Ghani Ejects LeCroy After Computer Ball/Strike Call

HP Umpire Darius Ghani ejected Rochester Red Wings manager Matthew LeCroy after IronPigs batter Weston Wilson's successful challenge on an apparent inning-ending strike three call, reversed by computer to ball three instead, extending the frame as Rochester was on its way to the dugout.

With two out and one on, Wilson took a 2-2 pitch from Red Wings pitcher Wily Peralta for a called third strike. After the call, Wilson animatedly tapped his helmet to signify a challenge request, which HP Umpire Ghani acknowledged with a head-tap of his own, resulting in an overturned ruling as the computer deemed the pitch low for ball three.

LeCroy was then ejected for arguing a combination of the replay result and Ghani's acceptance of Wilson's challenge. By rule, a pitch location challenge filed by the batter, pitcher, or catcher shall occur immediately after the call in question and replays indicate that although Wilson did react to the initial call, he fairly quickly signaled a challenge via the hand-to-head gesture.

LeCroy was previously ejected by Taka Matsuda in May, during a game in which both teams combined for six unsuccessful challenges as the quasi-Automated Ball Strike System (challenge) computer upheld all six Matsuda pitch calls.

Related Post: Challenge Checkup - Umpire Matsuda 6-for-6 w Ejections (5/22/23).

Video as follows:

Darius Ghani, Clay Williams Claim Umpire of Year Awards

Named crew chief for the 2018 California League Championship Series, Cal Lg umpire Darius Ghani was also named its 2018 Doug Harvey Award honoree, which celebrates the top umpire of the Class-A league; Clay Williams of the Appalachian League, meanwhile, took home the 2018 Dale Ford Umpire of the Year Award that is given out in that Rookie (Advanced) League.

Ghani becomes the ninth Minor League umpire to receive the Doug Harvey Award, named for the late Hall of Fame umpire Doug "God" Harvey, who officiated in the California League during his minor league career before taking his place in the National League from 1962 through 1992.

Darius Ghani received the 2018 Doug Harvey Award.

Doug Harvey Award Recepients, 2010-18

Year	Umpire Name
2018	Darius Ghani
2017	Mike Rains
2016	Patrick Sharshel
2015	Reid Gibbs
2014	Sean Allen
2013	Ronnie Teague
2012	Chris Gonzalez
2011	Ryan Goodman
2010	Blake Davis

Cal League President Charlie Blaney's statement:

Congratulations to Darius Ghani for being the ninth recipient of the Doug Harvey Award. Darius has worked hard all year and has done a tremendous job. We've been very honored to have him in our League this year. The Cal League sincerely thanks the family of Doug Harvey for lending his name once again to this prestigious award.

The California League named Harvey to its Hall of Fame in 2017, following his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Harvey was born in South Gate, California and was the last big league umpire not to have attended umpire school.
Related Post: Doug Harvey Set for CAL League Hall of Fame Induction (6/16/17).

Clay Williams is presented with the Dale Ford Award.

On the opposite side of the continent, Appalachian League President Lee Landers named second-year MiLB umpire Clay Williams as that league's Dale Ford Umpire of the Year. Like Harvey, Robert "Dale" Ford served in the league whose umpire of the year award bears his name, going on to officiate in the American League from 1975 through 1999.

Dale Ford Award Recepients, 2015-18

Year	Umpire Name
2018	Clay Williams
2017	Steve Hodgins
2016	Matt Brown
2015	Navas Corzo

Ford, who served three terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives after concluding his big league umpiring career, still officiates games from time to time in that league, and elsewhere in the state of Tennessee.