Forest Ump

+1 . I also do this mechanic. Softball mechanic may be different (they usually are). Check with your association.

I cram my gear into a 1973 Triumph Spitfire on occasion. Chair, gear, and clothes. Helps that I have a luggage rack on the back.

Hey Moblue. You should have given him your hook mechanic and said "This means your gone coach".

Good info Jax. Let me just add that runners are never required to slide but if they do it must be a legal slide. No pop up or rolling slide. Cleats can not be at knee level. No MC of course. A runner may slide or run in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play. The force play slide rule applies at all bases including home. Runner must go directly into the base. If the runner does not and his actions affect the play then you enforce the interference.

OBR Rule 8.01( Comment: With no runners on base, the pitcher is not required to come to a complete stop when using the Set Position. If, however, in the umpire’s judgment, a pitcher delivers the ball in a deliberate effort to catch the batter off guard, this delivery shall be deemed a quick pitch, for which the penalty is a ball. See Rule 8.05(e) Comment. (e) The pitcher makes an illegal pitch; Rule 8.05(e) Comment: A quick pitch is an illegal pitch. Umpires will judge a quick pitch as one delivered before the batter is reasonably set in the batter’s box. With runners on base the penalty is a balk; with no runners on base, it is a ball. The quick pitch is dangerous and should not be permitted.

Forget republicans, maybe you should apologize to the people who have family members with Alzheimers.

I remember doing a Pony Traveling Team game last year. I called a balk and advanced the runner. A moment later I hear from the stands “Hey, how about a warning". So I said "Don't do that again". That got a pretty good laugh. I also do a rec league (pony OBR) that wants one warning per pitcher for the first few weeks. I explain to them that we will not advance the runner but we will let any successful play by the offence stand. If a runner is stealing and a balk is called, I let the play stand unless he is out.