Working State AA American Legion tournament this weekend. One of the teams, we'll say Team A, seems to get everyones ire up (Parents/fans are extremely unruly, threatening physical violence, cat-calls, just snotty arrogant, asses). They are losing in a semifinal game but after a season of 7 inning double headers, the wheels seem to fall off in those extra 2 innings. Team A losing 9-4 going into the 7th. They tie it up at 9's. Top of the 10th, Team B scores on a sacrafice fly... wait ... as a last ditch effort to not loose this game Team A appeals the tag-up at 3rd. UIC rules the runner left early... aarrgghh (I was watching. If he left early, it was slight - less than a step), more innings. Top of 11th, Team B is pissed... solo HR, next batter solo HR, then a double, then another HR. Team B is up 13-9. Bottom of inning Team A gets runners on 2nd and 3rd, two out. Batter has two strikes looks like it could be over... pitch looks good, but no, ...ball, they walk him. Bases loaded, still two outs. New batter has 1-2 count. Looks like it could be over again, or be tied again. Team A coach now yells for time and approaches Home Plate ump.
Coach complains that Team B pitcher has now pitched 12 and 2/3 innings in last three days... Oh my God! Ooooopps.
American Legion rule reads "No player may pitch more than a total of 12 innings during any consecutive three-day period... PENALTY: Game shall be forfeited if protest is filed with the Umpire in Chief before the last out of the game."
It's so right but so wrong. One more strike call, One less 'tag-up was early' call and Team A would have found themselves in a loss and an unprotestable situation. Now they walk away being behind by 4 runs with a win and are in the championship game. They are a decent team but I feel undeserving of a championship. Disrespect and lack of courtesy have never won favor with me.
I had the locker room door open and guarded for the crew's quick exit. It proved to be a non-event for the umpires. The American Legion State President of Baseball took the brunt of the ruling.
To point out one little more display of Team A's arrogance... earlier in the tournament Team C is huddled together along the deep right field line. Team A runs through their huddle pushing people aside, touches the outfield fence and then back through the Team C huddle again. Team A coach was reprimanded but of course no penalty. I'm thinking, given that action and then the controversial protest, it was lucky he got off the field alive.
