Uncle Bill

Actually, neither is the CPU30. Guess they are more "soft on the outside"

I work everything from High School, both baseball and softball, little league and some travel ball. My go to CP is a system-7, and I love it's protection. But it is a little overkill for softball and the little guys. In the market to try a high quality soft shell, but not in the mood to dump $275 for the Force3. I am drawn to the All Star CPU30 but don't know any one with personal knowledge of it. If any one out there has one, tried one, or knows someone who has, your opinions will be appreciated. And as usual here in Nor-Cal the rainy season begins with the start of High school ball!!

First year I started doing high school had a partner with 30 years under his belt. He said "You get your job doing the plate. You keep your job doing the bases".

I took one in the same scenario a year ago. Unfortunately mine was closer to the shin. Last inning of s a 14u travel ball game. Swelled up the size of softball. Ball sliced and I turned the wrong way. Thirty minutes later on the dish for the 2nd game. I agree with those who say the F3 shins are by far the most they have ever worn, but not that day! Two days later the blood from the bruise had drained all the way to the arch of my foot. Ended up getting x-rays and an ultra sound, checking for blood clots. Nine month later the knot was still visible. Umpiring has been my retirement "job" for several years. After showing my wife my boo-boo she hinted that Wal-Mart is always looking for greeters.

Took a night off from a Little League tourney (11-12 y/o) and went in the score booth to run the official book. During game BR has 2 strikes when a pitch comes in high and inside. BR swings and ball strikes him in the shoulder. Of course OC argues it was a HP and he gets 1st. After Pu says no, that he swung OC sells an argument that it should remain at 2 strikes. No one disagrees and BR continues at bat. I can only assume that Pu ruling was it was a foul ball. My thought was what happens in the same scenario if the ball had rolled fair after striking BR? In Little League it is common for a BR to swing at an inside pitch and get struck. My ruling would have been unless the ball touches the bat, it would be dead ball and strike 3. Can any one help on the rule, either in Little League or other levels?

Little League Juniors (13-14 years old). . In our area the juniors are all interleague play and is more like sandlot. Manager replaces R1 with a special pinch (courtesy) runner, Rule 7.14 . R1 steals 2nd, 3rd and then comes home on a passed ball. It is then discovered that the runner was in the line up. It gets a little testy between managers. Of course the runner was the fastest player on his team. PU working solo. His solution is for the offending manager to apologize and play on. Apparently at his plate meeting he announced he was there to call balls and strikes, and the managers would have to police their game (including reporting their subs directly to the official scorer). Like I said, juniors can really be sandlot. A simple "coach, is your runner coming off the bench?" would have caught the violation before it occurred. My question is what do you do with this. It was discovered after the illegal runner scored and before the next batter. When the umpire told me the situation I said I would have fallen back on 9.01(c), called the runner out and taken the run off the board. Then bent the manager's ear a bit. His argument was once the 1st pitch was thrown he was no longer an illegal special runner. My view was because he was in the line up he continued to be illegal even after the next pitch. He was mixing in the not batting in proper order rules to fit his argument. Any thoughts or opinions?

Been using the Wilson Pro Platinum for several years. Still like them but want to try something new. High School level. I'm sure to get a bunch of opinions.