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Although we have a lot of umpires in my area, one-man games are a fact of life, especially when the high school season is still on. There are so many youth games to cover that the teams often wait for a guy to arrive following his 3:30 HS game (sometimes subvarsity alone). The fee and a half ($63) ain't bad for a 13-14 yr old game alone, usually a piece of cake for any experienced umpire. Having a partner is (usually) more fun and a chance to work on mechanics, but just not always possible.
There are no certified umpires that I know of here who would consider working from behind the mound. Even if a parent (in desperation) comes from the stands when no umpire shows, he dons the balloon protector from the equipment shed and works behind the plate.
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