I finally got the game I deserved...

[Umpire in Chief]

Last night was 99% chance my last High School game of the year. The remaining tournament games will be too early for me to leave work for. But I finally got the game I deserved all year long, and it was an evaluation game. We had a pitchers duel final score 1-0 in what was nearly a no hitter for both sides. I have never called so many strikes, or called strike threes - ever.

The game was not expected to be so good. The teams were average. The field is one of those really bad fields where 10' beyond the foul lines is the fence, no cut outs, and the bleachers are right there by the plate and you hear everything the fans are saying, even their casual conversations.

The pitchers were hitting their marks, the catchers were awesome too. I only heard one comment about my strike zone when a parent called his kid over to the fence as he went to the batters box,"Blue's zone is low , he hasn't called anything high at all so make sure you lay off the high stuff."

Sure enough with the count 0-2 the pitcher throws junk. A off-speed ball high and away, the kid swung way early and missed to end the inning. I go to the backstop to get my water bottle and the dad says to me, "Didn't I just tell him nothing high, sheesh"

I just smiled and drank my water.

Through the game I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop and something to happen, but it didn't.

Between innings I went to get some baseballs from the home coach and the visitor's coach came over with some line-up changes. One of the coaches said, "Hit's are at a premium tonight" jokingly. I think he ruined both teams no hitters. ( and my steak dinner )

I needed this game to re-affirm why I'm doing this and give me a little bit of a boost.

[LMSANS]

What no rain! Again!

A game like this makes up a lot for all those lower level beatings.

[Kyle_Stevens]

Games like this are a lot of fun when the players are there to play, the coaches there to coach and the fans there to cheer! (The way it should be)