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This actually occurred in a 7-8 year-old coach pitch game. F5 is coached to plant his left foot on the inside corner of third base (right foot is toward pitchers mound) and not to move from this position if a ball is hit into the outfield. F4 and F6 used the same tactic at second base.
Our kids still made it around the bases (we won 23-3) but we're always forced to run outside these kids planted on the bases. At first the umps told the opposing coach to move his players off the bases, but he refused, stating "he's the third baseman, it's his base and he's entitled to be there if the ball is in play". Believe it or not the umps (both of them) bought this argument.
I explained that #1) this is illegal due to the definition of obstruction (2.00) and #2) this was a very unsafe practice that will likely lead to collisions on the bases.
Please bring me back out of the "Twilight Zone" and tell me how the umpire should have handled this. I want your advice in taking this to the league commissioner and the Board of Directors if necessary. This tactic is used by two different teams (both with horrible W-L records) and both sets of game umps gave in to what I thought was a totally nonsensical argument by the coaches. Thanks guys.
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