Two and Done

[StrikeToWin]

Got called last Saturday to fill in at a pretty good sized tourney for two games.  The umpire I filled in for had gone down earlier in the day (last I heard, he was OK just over heated that day with temps in the mid 90's and about 80% humidity).  When I got there, my partner asked me if I could work both plates since he had worked this tourney the last 4 days and was on game 15 and 16 plus had already done two plates that day.  I agreed and we started the first game at 5:20 played 6.5 innings and we were done at 6:40.  We get the second game going at 7:10 and played 6 innings and the home team went up by 8 in the bottom of 6 for a run rule and we were walking off the field at 8:45.  Talking to my partner, he said that every game he had worked before those 2 had gone at least 2 hours.  I always see guys talking about fast games and getting done but this was the quickest I had ever gotten through a double header.  Plus it was good ball and I got to work with a college umpire (levels I normally do are less than spectacular).  I felt like I had a solid zone all night and kept the games moving.  Had a pitcher throwing upper 80's to low 90's and I handled it pretty well.  Most of the pitching I see is subpar and rarely touches 80.  All in all it was a great night.

[UmpJeff]

It's nice when that happens, isn't it?  Good zone (read lots of strikes!) and game management pays off...

Edited July 29, 2015 by UmpJeff

[Thunderheads]

It's nice when that happens, isn't it?  Good zone (read lots of strikes!) and game management pays off...

call 'em early and call 'em often!!