Intentionally throwing at batter judgement

[humanbackstop19]

Had a 9-inning JUCO game yesterday.  Defensive team and pitchers had been working inside part of the plate all day with catcher set up normally on the corner, consequently hitting a few batters in the process.  Nothing seemed intentional.  However, in the 7th inning, out of nowhere, with nobody on base, and no outs, the catcher sets up WAY inside to a left-handed batter.  Fastball comes in and brushes the batter back, HARD at the midsection.  I immediately kill the ball, step out in front of the plate and warn both the pitcher and catcher.  At that point the HC begins chirping from the dugout  asking, "What?  We can't set up on the inside of the plate?"  I kept my cool and explained his catcher was WAY off the plate, almost behind the batter, and was not set up properly inside the catcher's box with both feet inside at the time of delivery, by rule, making it illegal.  After a few more ignorant remarks by the HC I gave him his official warning as well as issuing a bench warning to the rest of their team. At the time, I was 90% sure it was intentional.  In hearsay, I'm now 100% sure.  I'm looking for thoughts if I handled this situation correctly or input how others might work it.  

[noumpere]

I'd look back and see if you can pick up why they chose that batter to throw at (just to help you in future games) AND to see if there was an opportunity to try to give a quiet, informal "warning" to head this off.  Sometimes there isn't.

[Mudisfun]

Follow up question... did this stop the behavior? If so then you achieved the desired results which would lead me to say yes, you handled it ok. As @noumpere said maybe try and see if there were warning signs throughout the game you may not have picked up on but barring that?

[humanbackstop19]

Yes, the behavior did stop.  I think both teams got the point I was not going to tolerate any further actions, or any retaliation from the other team.  As far as warning sides, both sides were pushing the limit of bush-league bench jockeying.  Unfortunately, I am not fluent in Spanish, which is the language much of the taunting was being spoken. That is speculation, but I believe a pretty good guess a lot of it was pushing the line.    

[VolUmp]

I don't believe in giving one team a warning — I believe in giving both teams a warning, or just letting it go.  I'm not at all opposed to retaliation when I see something that looks intentional — AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T COME AT HIS HEAD.  Then all bets are off.

Many times after I've suspected intent, and the opposing team comes out, and there's some mouthing going on, I'll flat out tell the catcher without looking at him, "If you throw at his head, I'm getting you and the pitcher.  Keep it down."  I ALWAYS get a "Yes Sir."

That's the way the game should be played.  Let the players take care of it, then assuming nothing was thrown at the head, warn both benches.  Then by rule, if you rule any further intent, the Heach Coach gets tossed with the pitcher.  Here, it's a $250 fine and a 2-game suspension.  It's never happened on my watch.  Players don't want that on their Head Coach's record, so they tend to knock it off.

[noumpere]

8 hours ago, VolUmp said:

I don't believe in giving one team a warning — I believe in giving both teams a warning, or just letting it go. 

Some codes allow warning only one team -- some require warning both.

And whether you allow a "purpose  pitch" or not might depend on the level of play -- it can work if the players are adults and both teams will view it the same way.