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Old Tue Sep 07, 2004, 08:01pm
SC Ump SC Ump is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 994
I agree. I will point and say, "That's obstruction" and give the delayed dead ball arm extended signal. When the runner is played on, I will yell "Time" to kill the play. (Okay, I yell, "Dead Ball" even though I have been taught that "dead ball" is a situation and "Time" is the proper call.)

After I kill the play, then it really depends. I explain my call and award any bases as I need to. In a serious, high school championship type game, I explain with BIG POINTING MOTIONS and very firm, "YOU, AWARD HOME" or whatever. In a Sunday afternoon have fun co-ed league, I might explain by speaking quietly where only the catcher and runner hears me, "Oh, the runner gets home on that. No doubt about that obstruction. You were definitely blocking the base line."

Side note: this reminds me of a 10-U "sorta fast pitch" game that I called. The pitch came in and the batter hit it. It dribbled off the bat and slowly rolled until it hit the batter on the foot. The (cute, adorable) batter had not moved from the batters box. Out of habit, I yell loudly, "DEAD BALL!!!" I scared the little girl and made her cry. I really felt terrible.
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