Hammerin' Hank Note: Umpire Knocked Out

Congratulations to the Gene Taylor's out of Grand Junction for winning the Hammerin' Hank Molina Classic. They beat the Naa'taanii 12-4 in Sunday's championship game.

A quick note from Saturday's games: The home plate umpire got knocked unconscious briefly during the Naa'taanii's 3-1 win over the Yankees at Ricketts Park.

Marlins draft pick Kenneth Giles was pitching and the baseball plunked the umpire. I wasn't there, but reports say it caught him on the neck below his facemask.

He fell backwards and momentarily blacked out, his arm limp. It was unclear whether the pitch was fouled off or if the catcher missed it.

The press box worker attempted to dial 9-1-1, and the server was busy for multiple tries -- a scary proposition. The call connected after a while but turned out to be unnecessary. Eventually the umpire declared himself OK and finished the game before heading to a waiting fire truck to be examined.

I don't think he umpired any games for the duration of the tournament. From what I understand he is OK.