[collinb]

I have had a new lightweight mask for three years with the builtin throat protector and always felt it gave enough protection until last year. In a varsity High School game a pitch hit the dirt three or four feet in front of the plate. It somehow bounced up under my throat protector and hit me in the adam's apple.
I almost had a panic attack as I tried catch my breath after gagging. It happened in the third inning and I could not get comfortable the rest of the game. It threw my whole game off. My partner tried to calm me down but I just could not get settled.
When the game was over, The first thing I did on the way home that Saturday afternoon was to stop and get an extended throat protector to attach to my mask.
I enjoy umpiring and I want to be comfortable back behind the plate. In sports there are always injures. But I plan on limiting the injures to myself by protecting myself.