Hi All - apologies for the long post. Just joined this site and I'd like to post this one while it's still fresh in my mind.
We're working a LL minors playoff game. The league uses mainly youth umpires and my partner on the bases is 13 while I just turned 18. Game has gone fine - we were pretty much invisible
Bottom 6, Score is 6-2 and the HT is coming up. Two things happened in this inning with the AC of the HT. There is a 2-2 count on the batter when I hear him yell to his kid that the count is 3-2. I corrected, saying the correct 2-2 count so he could hear. Next pitch is a ball and the kid goes to first. I call him back and the AC starts to argue the count. I wouldn't be dealing with him normally as an AC but he had the book for the team. Everyone on the field had a 2-2 count. We double checked the count and he still wouldn't drop it. I told him to go back and that we're continuing. At this point he's starting to blow..
Next - 2 outs, last chance for the HT. Ball hit to F4 and R1 clearly interferes with F4 (contact) - one of the most textbook interference calls in a while. After interference is called, R1 is out, and the game is over. HC of the HT comes out yelling and wanting an explanation. As we're explaining, AC blows a gasket and runs over to us and the HC. I tell him to go back and that I'm talking to the manager. He goes back, manager understands our explanation, and here is where it gets really interesting
As we're walking off, we turn around and see AC coming at us. He proceeds to take his shirt off (uh oh moment #1) and yell, "I don't need to be a coach anymore" (uh oh moment #2). At this point I'm trying to get us off the field ASAP because this dude was coming fast and I 100% thought he wanted to get physical. So did every single parent/coach/player who witnessed this as well. He opens the gate and steps toward us
and is blocked by some parents and finally his HC. Tries to come back three times also. I was VERY close to calling the cops. I just kept saying get out of my face, etc.
To not make this post any longer - BOD banned him for life . I've never feared for my safety before on the field. Same goes for the BU who is 13!!!
Should I have handled this differently? Any feedback? Been thinking about this one a lot, especially re: game management.. (happened Wednesday)
Thanks! Again, sorry for the long story
