first of the career

[Called3rdStrike]

20 years old and been umpiring for a little more than three years now. I've never had to toss anyone, until tonight. i'm working a 14u travel tournament championship game. Home teams up, as they should be since they were the better team, heading into the top of the 5th 6-0. They cruised through the first four innings with their number two and they run the "ace" out there for the fifth throuwing low 80's. Well the wheels completely fall off for them as they're making error after error and their stud is getting shelled. He's been charged with 6 runs through 1/3 of an inning when the lights go out. turn the lights back on and hes back and gives up a few duck farts and then with runners on second and third the batter hits a liner to RF and the fielder boots it. next batter steps in and he drills him square in the back. I felt he did it intentionally out of frustration and dump him immediately.

the coach argues with me that the is one of the nicest kids you'll ever meet and he'd never do something like that intentionally blah blah... i told the coach from being around the game of baseball for years, being a pitcher myself, i felt he was frustrated and intentionally drilled him. i had no clue who this kid was i was just going with what i've seen before and my baseball knowledge. he argued with me that i dumped him too qucik and wasn't thinking rationally.

did I dump him too quick?

after the game I seen him apologizing to the kid he hit, and I talked to him and explained where I was coming from at the time. he seemed to understand my point of view and he genuinely seemed like a good kid. we shook hands and I told him i'll see him next weekend, and the coach who gave me the most SH*# thanked me for explaing myself to the young man, told me good game, shook my hand and we left the field.

this was the first time i've ejected anyone. Kinda felt good. haha

[renegadewolf]

Personally I have never enjoyed tossing people, not to say I haven't, because it is part of the job occassionally. The joy of Judgement calls. If in your judgement the pitcher is intentionally throwing at the batter, you can either eject, or warn the pitcher and both benches, your choice, just be sure about it. As for coach, all you need to tell him is "in my judgement he intentionally threw at the batter", and now the rat,er coach is arguing a judgement call, feel free to remind him of that... every travel coach knows what that means. I would also advise against ever talking to anyone you have ejected from a game, good guy or not. Supposing this coach sees you and goes to your UIC or TD screaming you went after the kid you tossed after the game. It might well be false, but the optics are real bad. Leave whatever happened on the field on the field.