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No questions here, just a rant.
What a day. I'm working 12-year-old state tournament (Cal Ripken), hour-and-a-half drive away. Games start at 5, so that kinda ruins my Saturday (even though I did squeeze in 18 holes this morning).
I get to the field, and the tournament director calls all of us umpires over and says that due to the threat from Hurricane Dennis, they're moving two of Sunday's games to tonight. So we have 3 games. OK, no problem. I've had late nights all year.
I've got the dish for the first two games. Top of the first, first game, ball gets by the catcher, pitcher covering the plate, throw back to the pitcher just a little late, runner in under the tag. Next thing I know, pitcher is on the ground screaming in agony. I'm talking a blood-curdling scream: "It's broken, it's broken, Oh God..." etc., etc. Of course, coaches swarm around the kid, he's got a badly broken ankle, plus the runner's cleats dug into his leg and he's bleeding pretty bad. Long story short, it's 20 minutes before EMS gets there but we've got ice on his leg. EMS says that since he's 12, the local hospital can't do much for him and due to legal concerns, they have to take him to the nearest big city. So they call the helicopter, which takes another 20 minutes to get there. In all, the game was delayed about an hour, but still finished on time (10-run rule after 4 is a beautiful thing).
Second game was a classic, visitors win 1-0 on two hits in the sixth inning (I think it was the only hits they had all night). Loser of that game has to hang around and play the third game that has been tacked on to the schedule. So they're already in a bad mood.
Third inning of that game, play at the plate (I'm BU in this game). Catcher has the ball and is blocking the plate. Runner doesn't slide but tries to run around the catcher. There's a collision, but nothing major. My partner calls runner out, third out of the inning (I never saw runner touch the plate, looked like a good call to me). Offensive coach charges onto the field, starts to go ballistic on my partner. I tossed him real quick, which diffused what could have been a really nasty situation. He cusses me good while he walks off the field. I go back to my position to start the next inning. Next thing I know, I see a hat come flying out of the stands in my direction. I look and see some punk teenager standing there looking like he's ready to fight me. So I dumped him (I know, don't deal with fans, but when they throw something on the field at me, that's crossing the line). Here comes his brother, looks like he wants a piece of me, too. Dumped him. The coaches are pleading with the fans for order, and they finally settle down. Other team wins 5-1. Coach that I dumped follows us to the dressing room and apologizes to my partner, but still calls me something that I can't repeat.
I won't be going back over there. I'm pissed off that the local police didn't escort those fans and the manager from the ballpark. But hey, I got my money and I don't have to make that hour-and-a-half drive any more.
Oh, and this particular town whose team's coach I dumped -- they have a history of particularly bad behavior at sporting events. Dang near had a riot during a basketball district tournament earlier this year when their star player got ejected and another one tried to go Ron Artest on some fans. It didn't bother me one bit sticking it to them.
(end of rant)
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