Pretty cool rainout experience

[Umpire in Chief]

Had a game tonight it was supposed to be one of those games where the winner was determined when their names were placed on the schedule. As I was driving to the field I was talking on the phone with my partner as he was driving. We were discussing the weather and it we would be able to get the game in. As I was about 5 miles away I saw a lightning bolt as did my partner.

We then arrive at the sight and get suited up to go to the field we would see a bolt or two as we got dressed and walked up to the field. There weren't any players on the field and the coaches from both teams were out on the field. As we enter the field from one side the home AD enters from the other and side and said, "our earliest start time will be 5:45" my partner and I said that's the time we had too.

So we're just standing on the field talking. We'd make note of when we saw a flash. Even the coaches would point out flashes which were behind my partner and me. Then we got 20 minutes without lightning and were planning on starting in about 10 minutes.The AD brought the players out of the school to get warmed up. The last of the players hadn't even made it out of the school before another flash.

The players head back in and we continued talking. I decided to go to my car and get a drink I was saving for after the game. My partner comes with me. It's about a 500 yard walk from the field to the parking lot. but we have plenty of time. We get to the parking lot and it is almost like a tailgate dozens of parents hanging out primarily listening to the Norfolk State v Missouri game. My partner, one of the coaches and I stood out in the parking lot listening to the game and everybody is going crazy. We stayed in the lot continuing to monitor the lightning and listened to the rest of the game.

We walked back to the field and the HC & AD tell us that if we don't get started by 7:30 we won't play tonight. The HC then says "with Warren calling the game we'd have been done by now." Which stoked my ego a bit. The coaches my partner and I just sat in the dugout having a great conversation like we were all friends. About 5 minutes later the bottom dropped out.

Yes I was there over 3 hours, only got a travel fee out of it, and I still had a good time. But still would have had a game.

[sdix00]

I decided to go to my car and get a drink I was saving for after the game.

That's the SPIRIT!

Neat story.

[semper_fi_72]

Why didn't you get a game fee?

You get to the field you should get paid, even if you had fun lol

[Umpire in Chief]

I decided to go to my car and get a drink I was saving for after the game.

That's the SPIRIT!

Water

Why didn't you get a game fee?

You get to the field you should get paid, even if you had fun lol

Without 1 pitch we only get travel fee. After the first pitch full game fee.

[okump96]

We get 1 game fee if the game is canceled within 3 hours of scheduled start time. If we make it to the yard and take the lineups it's a full payday. But most of us drive better than 2 hours for most games, so our assignor takes care of us when the contract negotiations happen.