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conference game, Team A is home and undefeated. Fun starts in 1st inning. With no outs runner on 2B, he steals, is out at 3rd, coach for team A does not agree. Next batter hits long fly ball to left, even though coach A did not say anything, you know he felt we took a run away from him.
3rd inning, Team A batting, runner at 1st. Runner is stealing, pitch is inside approx 2inches off plate. Batter trys to "stiff arm" ball. Ball strikes his hand. If he did not stick out hand, ball would not have hit him. I kill it, and make him stay in box, award ball and send back runner. Oh my goodness, the fans called me everything under the sun. The coach came out and wanted an explanation. Remember, he is already upset at this point, the score is 0-0. I explain my reasoning, he doesn't like it, but returns to dugout. Fans are still worked up. They complained as much about sending back the runner as the call requiring the batter to stay in the box. Batter makes an out, next kid hits gapper, but coach has to hold up lead runner at 3rd. Inning ends with runners stranded at 2nd and 3rd. Again, coach A feels he has a run taken away from him, but does not verbally say it.
6th inning, 0-0, Team B batting, runner at 1st. Pitcher for A comes set and does a jump move to throw to first, but doesn't throw. I balk it. Coach A goes balistic. He comes out saying that his pitcher's foot was behind the rubber and that he was not required to throw. Since it was a jump move with his body twisting as he was in the air, it did not matter where his feet landed. Coach A lost it. Told me that "people are not here to watch you ump, there here to watch the kids play baseball". As he walked toward the dugout, his last words were "why don't you let the kids play!" Okay, he wanted the last word and he was walking away, I let it go. Since Team B's player advanced to 2nd on the balk, the batter proceeded to hit a ball that allowed the runner to score. Team A lost the game 2-0. No joy in mudville!!
After game, we had to return to do the JV game. Fans continued to make remarks about my decisions. Did it shake me up? A little, but I know I did my best and I know my decisions were based on the integrity of the rules.
The shame of the matter is that the ball game was a great game with strong pitching and excellent defense. Well that's life.
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