hill2933

Freshman game just ended. 13-3 through third with VT cruisning until the walls came crashing down. Bottom 6 ended HT up 22-13. Top 7 VT scores 6. Final 22-19 in a blistering 3:05!!!!

I am looking for a clinic that covers the two man system (primarily wouldn't mind a intro to three man but won't see that any time soon.) I am in Kentucky but am willing to travel within driving distance. Anyone have any recommendations? I am just in my second year of HS ball and just started working varsity so I don't want to get in over my head too soon. Thanks

When F2 was hit it caused him to drop the ball. R2 advanced to third while the ball was on the ground. If you don't have INT would you let runners continue to advance?

Varsity game tonight 3-2 game bottom 6. Two outs and R2 when batter takes huge cut at pitch and misses. F2 comes up and appears (to me at least) to be preparing to make a throw. F2 bladed his shoulders and stepped toward plate as he was coming up so it did not look like a normal throw back to F1. Batter's backswing comes around and catches F2 in the back. F2 dropped the ball and went to the ground. I called time and as I looked up R2 was advancing toward third. I got together with my partner to see if he thought F2 was trying to make a play and then called R2 out for the third out. HT coach was arguing that F2 was just throwing the ball back to the pitcher and R2 was not stealing. F2 did not move toward third like R2 was running so it looked more like he was going to throw to second. Would you get an INF on this or just kill it and send R2 back?

First game of three Fresh/JV/V secoond inning. I am PU and partner has two close calls on pick offs at first. Both go against VT. Coach is yapping on first one and comes out on second. I moved up the line around the 45' to get close enough to hear and back partner if needed. Coach began to walk off and stopped at the mound and turned around and yelled back toward my partner "that's two" and started back toward the dugout. I waited a second to see if my parnter was going to do anything with it then issued a loud "that's your warning." Coach stopped and I told him that he would not be counting calls on us today and stopped play while I noted the warning on the line up card. I know I should have let my partner deal with his own business but just did not want a long day to start off bad. It probably looked bad enough that I stepped in on the warning I think it would have shot my partner's credibility for the rest of the day if I ejected on it. Never heard another word for the rest of the day and all three were good games. Other than coach and parent nearly fighting in the lot it was uneventful after this. How would you guys suggest dealing with this? I felt like I stepped on partners toes on it but think it would have set the tone for the rest of the day if it was not addressed.

Will be a preface topic from now on. I probably should have been more patient and let it play out.

We also discussed who should make the call. The contact was well beyond the 45' mark so I took it. I know I have tags beyond the 45 but who would you prefer to take one like this? PU is looking at fair/foul and also has F2 coming up the line so I felt like I had the best look at it too. Would being in B or C change who's call it is also. Thanks guys

HS freshman game. B1 hits pop up right on the first base line. F3 goes into foul ground and settles under ball. The wind blows the ball back into fair ground and F3 steps back in to make play on the ball. BR runs into F3's shoulder as F3 is stradling the line causing him to drop the ball. I called INT and called BR out. Coaches questioned it but seemed ok when I told them he interfered with F3's opportunity to make the play. After the game my partner said he would have leaned toward OBS since F3 reached into running lane to make the play. Am I missing something on this?

I have triple headers the next two weekends. One is three freshman teams playing each other a couple times. The other is a F/JV/V triple. Our association doesn't normally do this so I am assuming we are just short people. Any tips on staying focused for what could be more than 8 hours of ball? I am trying to take off work the night before but may be working before and after both. Gonna be some long days.

How is this different than a double play ball in the infield? R1 running to second gets retired but is still in fair terriory. Would you get an out everytime R1 touched the throw to first? I would think if this was the case every coach would be teaching middle infielders to throw at every runner.

"Slaps a hard tag on well after he reached the base?" Dump him on the spot. Clean that up right away or it WILL escalate. No warnings. I have replayed it in my head over and over and don't feel an EJ would have been justified on the tag. There is much more contact on tag plays all the time this one was just late. I would not eject a kid on the same tag to get an out. It was unneccesary but not sure I could make it malicious.

I dont feel like either act by itself would have warranted an ejection but after the first one the second probably should have. I think if I handled the initial one better there would more than like not been a second. If it still happened I would have had no issue with dumping him. The game did clean up some after the warning was issued.

JV game VT gives up 4 runs without getting an out in the 4th. Bases loaded b5 hits ball to left center scoring R2 and R3. R1 goes to third and B5 rounds first since F3 is cut off man at the mound. Throw goes to F6 who chases B5 all the way back to first and slaps a hard tag on well after he reached he base. Coaches and fans all chirping but I dont think it would have been malicious contact. I stepped over to F6 and told him "that won't happen again." I went to my partner and told him what I had at the end of the inning but never notified the coach that I given a warning. Next half inning F6 comes up to bat and of course gets HBP. Did not look intentional at all (pitcher could not find the zone with a map) and F6 gets half way to first then turns around and starts making a "come on" gesture to the catcher. I did call time then and give a loud verbal warning to the player and the coach. I feel like he should have been run for the unsportsmanlike gesture after the initial warning but it would have been an s-storm if we ejected without a verbal warning. Rest of the game was sketchy but felt like we did a good job of keeping it under control. Guess I learned a lesson in game managment.

This is one of those fields that has a big drop off from the dirt to the grass. It is probably 6-8 inches below the dirt. I am not sure backing up would have been good. Coming in to pivot would have probably caused the same issue if I had.

Got my first varsity assignment recently. Got a text from assigner at 2AM saying he needed me to pick up a game later that afternoon. I had been assigned a JV game that was canceled so I figured it was another Freshman or JV game. Arbiter was down most of the night so I did not find out it was varsity until i woke up later in the afternoon. Probably a good thing so I did not stress over it too much. It was actually two of the better varsity teams around here too. I had the bases working with one of our senior guys who just got done with a D1 series. Everything was going smooth through first six innings. Home team was up by a couple runs and I don't think I had missed anything yet. VT wanted a balk on a couple pitched but all in all felt better than I expected. Top sixth two out and I am in A. F3 has been playing deep all day and backed up more with two strikes so I am at the edge of the grass which has a pronounced lip around it. Batter bloops a foul ball to short right. F3 turns and is coming right at me. I backed up a step to avoid F3 and caught the lip of the grass. Ended up flat on my back with F3 jumping over me trying not to step on me (thankfully). F3 was good about it and didn't change the game but not the footwork I had planned on using. Finished the rest of the game without incident. Got some good tips from partner and felt pretty relieved to have gotten the first one out of the way.

Freshman game this weekend. VT brings F6 in to pitch and he has eye black on. Nothing excessive, just a stripe under each eye. HT coach comes to me and asks if he is allowed to wear it. I told that if I did not feel it was distracting it was ok. First batter walks and I did not see anything distracting about it. Next thing I know my partner has called tiime and pulled a towel from his pocket and is at the mound wiping the eyeblack from F1's face. F2 even commoneted that it looked like his mother was calling the game today. So two issues for me. #1 am i missing something in the rules about thi? I see where he can't wear anything on arms, wrists or hands that may be distracting. Also white or gray on glove or undershirt. But don't see anything about wearing black or anything on his face. Then how would you address VT coach going to your partner after you already addressed the question? I am not even going to try to address the partner wiping F1's face!

Thanks for all the advice guys! Game went really well. Kept running the advice I got here through my mind. Thinking ahead of what I was going to do before the play really helped and really concentrated on slowing down too. Evaluator gave some great advice between innings and got me moved up more in the slot. WOW what a difference a half step makes. Really felt like I was seeing the pitches so much better. I did have a few screw ups but nothing major that anyone other than the two of us even noticed. Went to wrong side of the mound when my partner went out on a trouble ball. Runner held at first so there was no call to make and I actually realized what I had done wrong. Zone felt pretty good and and partner said it looked consistent. Second batter of the game dumped a trouble ball into short right that partner went out on. I rotated out and was in position to call a banger at second when he tried to stretch it. Even got an "atta boy" from my partner. Glad it happened early and took some pressure off. Later had a rotation to third on a hit to right center. Moved up letting my partner know I had third. R1 tried for third and the CF made a good throw. I stepped in stopped and watched the tag. I waited for him to show me the ball then banged the out call. Was told there are a couple of us new umpires that were being looked at to work varsity games and that I would be recommended to work local tournament games for summer and fall ball. I was also asked about being a mentor in a new mentor program in our association. Again thanks for the encouragement and advice. I re-read everything in the parking lot before the game and it definitely made a difference. I still have a long way to go to get where I want to be but this is a big help.

I just got an assignment for this weekend with one of our evaluators. Stress level just went way up. I have the plate for a pretty competitive JV game. Just started second year and have not had anywhere near the experience I would like to have (especially behind the plate.) Working on getting rotations to be more second nature since I feel like I am usually late getting there and trying to be more consistent with my zone. Any other advice for evalutions would be helpful and I will take the "don't sucks" as advice.

Pitcher throws a pitch up and in to batter. Instead of turning with the pitch batter backs up and brings hands and bat in toward his chest trying to avoid being hit. Just as the ball gets to the batter F2 stands up to go after the high pitch and steps in front of me. I am completely screened and hear ball hit something but not sure what. Ball rolls between catchers legs and behind me. I am the only one in the park that did not know the ball hit the knob of the bat. I called time and went to my partner to verify ball hit bat and notified both benches that it was a strike. No one complained at all but my question is how do you handle a situation like this and any advice to avoid it in the future? I never heard a word from either side but I think it would have been a hot topic if there was another issue later.

With all the crazy weather playing havoc on the local school schedules and basketball still going on, our association has had a tough time finding gyms to hold clinics. One of our members was able to get us in to the gym where he works for our first through third year clinic tonight. I can't wait till one of the coaches askes where I got my training so I can tell him I was trained at the School For the Blind!!!! Actually some really good training but could not convince them to print up certificates for us. That would be worthy of framing and hanging on the wall.

This was my first year working high school games and loved it. Looking forward to working more and better games. Would you recommend attending camps this early or keep working on basics for a few years before jumping into camps? I have to turn in vacation requests shorty for next year and have to convince the wife that I should be spending that kind of money. I am in Kentucky so an eight hour drive is doable for Springfield.

c and d for Fed I agree with d, but disagree with c (for Fed): 8-3-5: When a runner, who is returning to touch a base after a batted ball has been caught is prevented from doing so because a thrown live ball has become dead (5-1-1g), his award shall be from the base occupied at the time of the pitch. And this 2010 NFHS rule interp would prove you right: SITUATION 11: R1 is on third and R2 on first with one out. B4 hits a sinking line drive to center field. R1 tags properly and goes home, while R2 is off with the hit. F8 makes a great catch. R2 is beyond second base as F8 throws back to first in an attempt to double up R2. The ball goes into the dugout with R2 still between second base and third base. R2 touches second base and goes back to touch first base. RULING: The ball is dead and R1’s run will count. R2 will be awarded two bases from the base he had at the time of the pitch (first base), so he will be awarded third base. If the defense properly appeals R2 being beyond second base at the time the ball went dead, R2 will be declared out. R1’s run would still count. (5-1-1g-3, 8-2-5, 8-2-6d-1, 8-4-2q) Just trying to wrap my head around this play. R1 breaking on the pitch when B2 hits deep fly to F7 who makes catch with R1 between 2nd and 3rd. R1 realizing there is a catch turns to retouch and return to 1st and would beat throw back to 1st. Why would F7 not just throw the ball into the seats before R1 retouched 2nd? If he can now not leagally return to 1st and would be ruled out on appeal this seems like it penalizes the offense for a defensive bad throw. Am I not thinking about this correctly or missing something? Because there is a rule that prevents him from gaining this advantage. If a fielder deliberately throws a ball into DBT in this situation, the runner shall be allowed to retouch and carry out his award, and would still be safe upon appeal. I don't have my books with me, so hopefully someone else can post the relevant Fed cite. 8-3-3-d: d. one base if a pitch or any throw by the pitcher from his pitching position on his plate goes into a stand or bench or over or through or lodges in a fence or backstop or touches a spectator or lodges in an umpire's or catcher's equipment; or with less than two outs, the batter hits a fair or foul ball (fly or line drive) which is caught by a fielder, who then leaves the field of play by stepping with both feet or by falling into a bench, dugout, stand, bleacher or over any boundary or barrier such as a fence, rope, chalk line or pre-game determined imaginary boundary line. A runner shall not be declared out if the fielder deliberately throws or carries the ball into dead ball territory to prevent that runner who has touched or advanced beyond a succeeding base from returning to a missed base or a base left too soon. Award the runner two bases. This allows the runner(s) to correct any base-running error. Defense may still appeal the play Thanks just running it through in my head. That would be an S**tstorm either way.

I believe basketball allows it in state championship games only.

c and d for Fed I agree with d, but disagree with c (for Fed): 8-3-5: When a runner, who is returning to touch a base after a batted ball has been caught is prevented from doing so because a thrown live ball has become dead (5-1-1g), his award shall be from the base occupied at the time of the pitch. And this 2010 NFHS rule interp would prove you right: SITUATION 11: R1 is on third and R2 on first with one out. B4 hits a sinking line drive to center field. R1 tags properly and goes home, while R2 is off with the hit. F8 makes a great catch. R2 is beyond second base as F8 throws back to first in an attempt to double up R2. The ball goes into the dugout with R2 still between second base and third base. R2 touches second base and goes back to touch first base. RULING: The ball is dead and R1’s run will count. R2 will be awarded two bases from the base he had at the time of the pitch (first base), so he will be awarded third base. If the defense properly appeals R2 being beyond second base at the time the ball went dead, R2 will be declared out. R1’s run would still count. (5-1-1g-3, 8-2-5, 8-2-6d-1, 8-4-2q) Just trying to wrap my head around this play. R1 breaking on the pitch when B2 hits deep fly to F7 who makes catch with R1 between 2nd and 3rd. R1 realizing there is a catch turns to retouch and return to 1st and would beat throw back to 1st. Why would F7 not just throw the ball into the seats before R1 retouched 2nd? If he can now not leagally return to 1st and would be ruled out on appeal this seems like it penalizes the offense for a defensive bad throw. Am I not thinking about this correctly or missing something?

May be a dumb question but I seem to be full of them. If R1 was heading back to first base dugout would he have to retouch second on the way to third? Just thinking of the arguments DM could make.