[tribefan1952]

JV game. My strike zone might have been a little low, but not bad. Inch or two below the knee. I was very consistent for both teams. Visiting coach and fans whined a lot. Home team never said a word, except telling his team to adjust. Both coaches kept telling their pitchers & catchers to keep it around the knees, saying, "He's calling them there. Throw them there."

Again, I don't think I was that bad. My partner didn't think so either. I usually ask my partner if the fans are crying. I've seen a lot worse.

Home team batting, down by a couple runs. 3rd or 4th inning. Batter squares to bunt. Ball is out of the strike zone. Bat doesn't move a bit. "Ball." Visiting coach runs out of the dugout like a madman. "She didn't pull her bat back!! She didn't pull her bat back!!"

I say, "She didn't offer at the pitch. She doesn't have to pull her bat back."

He says, "I played softball. You have to pull your bat back or it's a strike!!"

I felt like saying, "Read your rule book." But I refrained.

Next batter. Same thing happens. Same tirade. Now the visiting team's parrot fans are really getting into it. I guess theyt are thinking, "Anybody who's acting like that must be right."

The coach finally says, "Can I ask the other ump?"

I say, "Please do." My partner says, "She didn't offer at the pitch. It's not a strike unless it's in the strike zone."

No problems for the next few innings, except for continuous whining from the visiting fans. The visiting coach settled down.

Bottom of the 7th. Home team batting and still down by 2 runs. Runners on 2nd & 3rd. 2 outs. Very tall batter. Very tense fans. First pitch comes in a little below the knees. "Strike!" I've been calling that pitch a strike the entire game. (Of course, the visiting team seems to like the call now.) Next pitch... same spot. "Strike 2" Still no chirping from the home team. Home coaches & fans are just telling her to swing if it's close. The same low pitch comes in a 3rd time. Batter hits a double in the gap. Tie game.

Now comes the best part. Sorry this is so long. Home team is batting in the bottom of the 9th. Still tied. 2 outs. Runner on 3rd. Ball is hit straight down and it comes to rest in the batters box. I have plenty of time to move and get a very good look at it. I signal "Fair ball." No doubt. None. It was fair by at least 4 inches.

Catcher makes a bad throw to first, runner scores from third. Game over.

Now the same moron visiting coach charges out and screams, "The ball was in the batters box! The ball was in the batters box!! It can't be fair!"

I say, "It was in the batters box and it was fair. It was inside the foul line."

Again he runs to my partner. My partner agrees. Game over.

As we're leaving the field. The visiting team's fans are getting really nasty. Meanwhile, the visiting coach is loudly telling his players, "You didn't lose this game, the plate ump did."

My partner looks at me and rolls his eyes. We didn't waste any time in the parking lot.


I'm new at this and I have a few questions:

How do you tactfully tell a coach to learn the rules?
How do you tell the fans the same thing?
How do you tell a coach not to deliberately rile up his fans?
Should I tell my story to the visiting team's AD?
Should I tell my story to my association?
Should I just let it go and try to learn something from it?