HS JV funny story

[mac266]

I was the plate umpire.  Runners on 1st and 3rd, two outs.  The at-bat was nothing to write about, but I called "ball four" on a pitch and the runner trotted off to first.  The runner on 3rd thought the bases were loaded, so he began trotting home and no one said anything to stop him.  The catcher just held onto the ball without throwing it back to the pitcher, and waited.  Realizing what was happening, I took off my mask and adjusted my positioning to get into the "wedge" to make the call. 

The runner didn't notice any of this, and his team left him hanging -- they didn't say a single word to get him back on the base.  When he was a few feet from the plate, the catcher jumped out and tagged him.  "He's OUT!" I signaled.  

The runner just stood there looking confused while the defense left the field to begin their turn at bat until someone finally told him, "There was no one on second."  

[The Man in Blue]

As a player, I loved that play when it worked (meaning "we scored").  I was a catcher and never had it run against me, but as R3 I did it a few times.

As an umpire, I love that your play went the way it did.  I don't think I have ever seen that happen.  Do you think the catcher knew the whole time, or was it a "the ump gave it away" moment?

[mac266]

On 7/17/2021 at 11:49 AM, The Man in Blue said:

As a player, I loved that play when it worked (meaning "we scored").  I was a catcher and never had it run against me, but as R3 I did it a few times.

As an umpire, I love that your play went the way it did.  I don't think I have ever seen that happen.  Do you think the catcher knew the whole time, or was it a "the ump gave it away" moment?

All I did was pop off my mask and reposition slightly.  I doubt if he sensed my movement, and I'm convinced he saw the kid coming the whole time because he was looking at him...and he kept the ball instead of throwing it back.