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This happened two or three years ago and it still bothers me. I have had people tell me different things on how to handle it and I would like more feedback.
Working with a partner in the field who never (I'm neither mad nor upset with him to this day.)should have been assigned to do a 16 year old full time traveler wood bat tournament. Did a pregame with him going over two person mechanics and realized this could be trouble. I told him between innings I would help him with his mechanics etc. Which we did.
I got the dish. Runner on third less than two outs. Batter bunts the ball in the air before the mound more towards the plate than first. 1st baseman coming toward me clearly and without doubt (opposing coaches both agree) catches the ball on the short hop. First baseman about to throw home hears the field ump yell out and instead throws to third for an apparent double play. Needless to say the offensive coach is going balistic. My solution was to nullify the double play award the batter first and allow the run to score. My rationale to fix this was I knew the first baseman was aware that he short hopped it and should have thrown home (first basemans body language was a major factor in my soultion) to get the runner from third just in case. Naturally the defensive coach goes ballistic. and wants an out at home. While sympathetic I told him I couldn't assume a good throw, a good tag at the plate or a successful rundown if that occurred. In retrospect I think what I should have done was put the runner back on third the batter on first. I just couldn't let an unjustified double play occur. However some say I should have let the field guy take the heat and let the play stand.
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