First game of the season - HS Varsity

[clawdad]

So, I was supposed to have a JV game last week that was postponed due to weather.  We then managed to have about 2.5 hours of a scrimmage that all the umpires in attendance rotated into (not a lot of field or plate time for any one person - plus it was about 40 degrees with 20 MPH wind).  Needless to say, not a lot of live action prep so far this year.  This leads up to last night...

 

My first game of the year, which also happened to be my first ever HS Varsity game. I had the dish.  

 

Home team HC actually coaches for the same school he did when I played against them HS ball, so I am somewhat familiar with how he is during games.  Visiting team is new to me.

 

Overall, the game went well.  VT F1 was close to quick pitching a few times but not quite enough to call it (in my judgement at the time - looking back, I think could have got him once or twice).   So then HT HC tells his batters to step out after almost every pitch.  Both HC's start complaining about each other's actions.  Visitors HC said "he can pitch as soon as they are in the box."  Home HC says "Visitor's F1 is quick pitching, that's why my guys are stepping out."  My answer to both was this -  "HT, your batters need to keep a foot in the box as stated in FED rules and not step out all the time.  VT, your F1 may pitch when the batter is set in the box, not the instant the batters feet touch the ground.  A quick pitch is illegal and will be penalized if it is judged to be one. "  They both wanted to continue chirping about it, but I told them both "That's enough!  We're not discussing this all night.  I've made my decision, so let's play."  Nothing else was said by them about it the rest of the game, and it wasn't a problem again.  I'm not sure if they were both testing me a little to see how far I would allow them to go since I was new to that level of play.

 

I felt my strike zone was OK, but I know i missed a few pitches for both teams.  Took a couple shots to the WVG, and one to my shinguard.  I think those actually helped me focus more for some reason.   

 

My biggest critique of myself was my timing on balls & strikes.  It may have been a bit of nerves and being rusty, but I could tell I rushed some calls. I will keep that in mind and work on it.

 

The game ended with visitors winning 7-6.  The final out of the game was on a called 3rd strike HT batter watched the whole way.  As soon as it hit the glove - and before I rang him up- the batter dropped his head and knew he was out.

 

On to the next...Game 2 is a HS Varsity game as well.  I have the bases for that.

[24sdad]

Clawdad, congrats on moving up.

 

You handled the pitcher/batter thing well, but the only advice I would give is get on it earlier.  I like to tell batters they need to take their signs with one foot in the box and "I won't let him pitch until you are ready."  If you see F1 starting his motion, come out big with "time" and then tell F1 that he needs to allow the batter to get set.  

 

You said you could have possibly called a quick pitch a couple times.  The FIRST time it happened is when I would have addressed it like I described above.

 

The more pitches you see, the better your timing will become.  Good luck.

[FearNot]

Awesome... good luck

[Mike Prince]

Congrats on earning better assignments!