[EdJW]

First, for him to suggest that girls don't have to simply drop the bat it not truthful. In NJ, umpires for PONY, NSA, ASA, Babe Ruth, et al call a girl out if she does not just drop the bat. So, any legal investigation of a bad situation would concur that the girl had to drop the bat, without any liability to the girl.

Second, where Irish is right, an umpire should not take any proactive action like picking up and throwing a bat that could injure someone. That is outside the umpires duties, and it exposes an umpire to legitimate liability should something go wrong.