How to handle this

[JaxRolo]

JV Game. Decent 1-3 game until the 5th. Visitors batting. They get a couple hits and Home Team made some errors. It is now 1-5.

Home team comes to bat. With 2 outs they manage to load the bases. The next batter takes his place in the box but he is almost on TOP of the plate. He is leaning over on every pitch. Half his body is in the strike zone. The count works to 3-2.

The next pitch comes inside but Still in the strike zone. The batter turns and the ball hits his shirt in the strike zone. He starts running to first. I say No-No the pitch is a strike.

Everyone on the Home side goes nuts. HC comes to argue. (understandingly) He wants me to get help from partner. I tell him there is nothing to get help for. He's upset. As he walks to the dugout he picks up a helmet and throws it. I walk up to him and warn him.

Then there is some guy in the dugout not in Uniform so he's not a coach. I have no clue who he is. He tries to say something and is asking for my name. Is their last game of the season so I try not to eject so I ignored him. Home team ends up losing.

After the game we are changing in the parking lot and this same guy not in Uniform comes to our cars and is still asking for my name.

So what I want is for you guys to tell me how I should have handled this whole situation and should I have called that strike?

I really feel like I had an excellent game calling balls and strikes.

[Mike Prince]

Yes you should have called the strike. As far as the rest, I wouldn't worry about the non-uniformed guy. Not sure the coach should have stuck around, guess it depends on how/where the helmet was thrown.

[cyclonehokiece]

If you have a batter hit while the ball is in the strike zone, call the dead ball strike. I agree with Mike, don't worry about the non-uniformed guy as long as he is not on the field and is not being a problem. However, if you feel he shouldn't have confronted you in the parking lot, you could report him under the new FED rule.

[Welpe]

Sounds like you did fine and if he insists on a name in the parking lot, it's "Bruce Froemming".

[Kevin Finnerty]

Someone who comes to the car for anything negative is ordered to walk away. If he doesn't walk away, he is ordered again. Then it becomes a self-defense issue. And, in Florida, you can shoot him. But make sure you warn.

[BT_Blue]

Someone who comes to the car for anything negative is ordered to walk away. If he doesn't walk away, he is ordered again. Then it becomes a self-defense issue. And, in Florida, you can shoot him. But make sure you warn.

Just dont follow him when he walks away.... evidently that is a bad thing.

[JaxRolo]

Turns out the non-uniformed person in the dug out that also went to look for us in the parking lot is the Varsity Head Coach.

I don't care who it is!!! If I don't know you and you come looking for me there is going to be trouble.

[johnnyg08]

I'm just glad that you didn't ask for help.

[HokieUmp]

Everyone on the Home side goes nuts. HC comes to argue. (understandingly) He wants me to get help from partner. I tell him there is nothing to get help for. He's upset. As he walks to the dugout he picks up a helmet and throws it. I walk up to him and warn him.

Dump that guy.

After the game we are changing in the parking lot and this same guy not in Uniform comes to our cars and is still asking for my name.

Get his name first. When he asks why, tell him so the 911 dispatcher can tell the cops who to come arrest if he doesn't get the hell out of your 'locker room.'

(I don't have any HS rulebooks lying around, but is there something in there that would have allowed you to get Mr Not in Uniform out of the dugout during the game? I don't remember, but something in the back of mind thinks you can. Maybe not.)

And good call on the strike.

[scrounge]

Turns out the non-uniformed person in the dug out that also went to look for us in the parking lot is the Varsity Head Coach.

I don't care who it is!!! If I don't know you and you come looking for me there is going to be trouble.

He should be ashamed of himself. I'd consider calling his AD, if only to get your side of the story out there for the future if you ever do varsity with this school.

[Welpe]

Turns out the non-uniformed person in the dug out that also went to look for us in the parking lot is the Varsity Head Coach.

I don't care who it is!!! If I don't know you and you come looking for me there is going to be trouble.

I'd file a report with the state at this point.

[JaxRolo]

Turns out the non-uniformed person in the dug out that also went to look for us in the parking lot is the Varsity Head Coach.

I don't care who it is!!! If I don't know you and you come looking for me there is going to be trouble.

I'd file a report with the state at this point.

I sent an email to the President of our association. They like for us to go through them first.

[sdix00]

regarding the OP. I am assuming the batter was in a legal position in the batter's box prior to the pitch.

I have had this Sitch a few times, although not with 2 outs and bases loaded, yet. There were no inside lines, but when I saw the batter leaning over the plate I called time and reminded the batter to keep his feet in 'the box' and made a minor gesture to that effect. The players haven't got hit yet, but usually walked as F1 naturally pitches away in this Sitch.

However, if the batter did get hit, it would not be a total surprise to everyone since they witnessed the 'reminder' prior to the pitch.

[Fittske24]

I called time and reminded the batter to keep his feet in 'the box' and made a minor gesture to that effect.

It's not your job to remind batters where or how to stand. Only thing you can do is instruct the batter to get in the box, but that's about it. Once they get in the box they can do what ever they want. Warning a player about a "potential" rules infraction is not a good practice. This is because, if you do it for one then you have to do it for all. Now you have become a coach not an umpire. Let them do as they will, you just enforce the rules/penalty associated with their actions.

[sdix00]

I called time and reminded the batter to keep his feet in 'the box' and made a minor gesture to that effect.

It's not your job to remind batters where or how to stand. Only thing you can do is instruct the batter to get in the box, but that's about it. Once they get in the box they can do what ever they want. Warning a player about a "potential" rules infraction is not a good practice. This is because, if you do it for one then you have to do it for all. Now you have become a coach not an umpire. Let them do as they will, you just enforce the rules/penalty associated with their actions.

I agree. What I am saying is that I was correcting a rules infraction. Even though there are no inside lines, I still adjudged the batter to be in an illegal position. Maybe I should have phrased it "instructed the batter to keep his feet in the box", rather than "reminded the batter to keep his feet in the box".

But I do get your point.