LL jr question/procedure

[baces]

Little League Jr tournament game, three man crew. Home team losing 6-8 in bottom of 7th, bases loaded, 1 out, 2-2 count on batter. Batter swings and misses uncaught strike 3, ball bounces in dirt and gets behind catcher. PU signals strike 3 but never calls or signals BR out. For whatever reason third base coach starts shouting at BR to run which causes R1, R2, R3 to go.

Catcher retrieves ball few feet behind home and with R3 coming home, steps on plate which PU calls R3 out. Catcher then throws down to 1st base to get BR comfortably, U1 makes no call knowing that BR is all ready out. Visiting team thinking that they had won after PU called force out on R3 and throw down to 1st begins to celebrate, pitcher runs to catcher, 1st baseman rolls ball towards mound then runs towards dugout, outfielders coming in, and unbelievably HP turns back to field and starts walking to scorer table. Meanwhile manager of home team is yelling to R3 and R2 to touch plate which they do. Shortstop only defensive player to realize what is going on sprints across infield to pick up ball and make throw to pitcher standing near plate to make a play on R1. PU which is some distance behind home plate has now faced field to see R1 coming home. R1 slides on close play which U1 comes in to make call and calls safe.

After play is over home manager comes out to appeal PU decision. PU is made aware that BR can not go because of occupied 1st base and that R3 had to be tagged. After consulting with U1, PU rules all three runs score, game over 9-8. Visiting manager is obviously livid and tells PU that all runs scored because he queered the action. He also argues that no umpire saw R3 or R2 touch the plate. He immediately protests game which is later denied.

Obviously this play was bungled beyond belief. I was U1 on this play.

Am I ever suppose to reverse obvious incorrect PU call (force out on R3) while play is in progress or signal BR out on strikes while he is running to 1st?

Was I correct to IMMEDIATELY make call on R1 at plate thinking that PU was incapacitated and not going to make call?

Hypothetical question: what would be the outcome if no umpire made a call on R1 at the plate?

[yawetag]

Am I ever suppose to reverse obvious incorrect PU call (force out on R3) while play is in progress or signal BR out on strikes while he is running to 1st?

No to both. The plate is PU's territory. If he screws the pooch, you fix it after action relaxes.

Was I correct to IMMEDIATELY make call on R1 at plate thinking that PU was incapacitated and not going to make call?

In the situation, you noticed PU wasn't in position, so you did all you could. However, I would have hesitated the call to see if PU would make it -- it's better to make sure you're not going to have conflicting calls.

Hypothetical question: what would be the outcome if no umpire made a call on R1 at the plate?

Someone would have to make the call eventually.

[txump81]

Am I ever suppose to reverse obvious incorrect PU call (force out on R3) while play is in progress or signal BR out on strikes while he is running to 1st?

As far as calling the BR out on strikes, the players should know the situation and know that the BR is out. The strike three call or strike indication should be sufficient. As BU, I might signal the out, but nothing else. It is not our job to coach. BTW, I have had all sorts of situations of BR running to 1B on U3K and in every situation, it is the player's responsibility to know the situation.

[yawetag]

Let me add that when the play was made at 1B, I probably would have said something to the effect of "He was out on the strikeout!"

[catoblue]

The defense should have known they didn't have 3 outs because of you no-call at 1st. Starting to celebrate with what at the moment appeared to be two outs (even though out no. 2 would later be overturned) was their own blunder.

I wouldn't over-rule your partner's call on R3, but think that coming in for the play on R1 when you saw PU headed for the backstop was the right thing to do.

Once play relaxed, then I'd conference with PU and would bring up that BR was out, so no force at home, then sort out the runs scored.

[Astrosdawg07]

Man I would hate to be in that situation. Sounds like to me the defense just didn't know the situation. Even though PU never made an out call on the BR, he also never made the safe mechanic. The DEF should know the situation but it does sound like an epic fail on your PU as well. :shrug: