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Worked the plate for a good game last night between two schools with strong programs (albeit both having off years), district rivals, close geographically. My kids graduated from the visiting school. I know both schools pretty well.
At the plate conference, I reminded both coaches to keep players in the dugouts, that I didn't want players out around home plate while baseballs were flying around, etc. I don't usually do this but because I knew the schools, this time I did.
Both teams squander multiple opportunities to score lots of runs. It is a spirited game with both teams and the fans into the game. Home team down 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, runner on first. Batter slices a triple into the right field corner, runner from first scores. Home team players are mostly in the path between the third base dugout and the dirt around home plate and the throw from right field is handled by the catcher, who has no play. However, the pitcher is trying to back up the throw but is having a hard time getting into position because of all the players hanging around.
There was nothing about all of this that affected the play. There was no play at the plate, the ball didn't get past the catcher, just a lot of players where they shouldn't be.
Visiting coach complains that players kept his pitcher from properly backing up the play. I issued a team warning to the home team. Visiting coach says, "That's it?" I say, "That's it." He retreats to the dugout.
This wasn't an ugly situation but it doesn't take a lot of imagination to see how it could have been ugly. How does one prevent spontaneous displays like this without totally ignoring what's happening on the field?
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