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I was doing a men's fast pitch game. There was a close play at the plate which I called the runner safe. After short argument with he catcher and pitcher (who was also the manager) we resumed play. The very next pitch was high and inside with the catcher dropping his mitt at the last second. Bang right in the mask. I didn't even blink. Told the catcher that was a ball and if that happens again there will be ejections. You never forget something like that, but players do. Years later during new umpire training one of the new trainees was telling us how we should work the game behind the plate or else the pitcher/catcher battery might retaliate like he did in some game in the past. You should have seen the look on his face when I told him yea I remember that game, the runner was safe and you were an A-hole. He never did umpire any games for us.
I did learn something from that encounter. Before I would flinch sometimes, I learned I could trust my equipment and now do not flinch any more. I also learned that men are the worst sports in softball.
Bugg
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