I Couldn't Keep from Laughing

[MObetterBlue]

Friday evening July 3rd.  HS league double header in St. Joe, MO.  It was a beautiful evening and expectedly, there are fireworks going off all over in the neighborhoods surrounding the field adding to the "ambiance".  Both teams are above average for this league and a lot of the players obviously know each other from the chit chat around the field.  They're competing hard but it's very good natured so there's a bunch of good kids involved and they're having a great time playing ball.  As a bonus, I'm working with my 17 year old son who's working his first HS level games.

I'm BU in C with R3.  A "kid" comes up who's about 6'4" and 275lbs and hits a shot to the right-center gap.  I know R3 is gonna score so I just keep my eye on BR as he's chugging around first to see if he'll try for the double.  Sure enough, he does.  I get into position right before he slides into 2B somewhat awkwardly.  Safe but barely.  So he's sitting there on his butt with both feet on the bag gasping for air.  Between gasps, he looks up at me and says, in a typical surfer dude accent, "time out bro".  I had to turn away to contain my laughter as I called time. 

Not two innings later, a different big "kid" comes to bat and takes a pretty good shot in the ribs - HBP.  As he's 3/4 the way to 1B, F3 offers him a hug, which he accepts, much to the entertainment of everyone in the stadium.  Too funny!  It was the most fun I've had umpiring a double header.

[ElkOil]

A hug'll make it all better!

[ZebraStripes]

Freddie Freeman's apprentice in Missouri?