[3appleshigh]

I don't completely disagree with you guys. In fact 99% of me completely agrees. That is why I posted. However, the problem in this league is hot heads and ejections and fights. The schools involved are notorious for having major issues, I was looking at this as a Game management issue Re Making sure no Fights or bad blood, which was very likely, but tempers cooled after this play. The finishing the game aspect was more a before they brawlled, not a get out of a bad game thing. It was 6 runs into that inning, I had no problem with them continuing to play, but wasn't about to have a brawl on my hands. I argued with myself over that call, but I think in this situation, I probably stopped a bigger uglier incident. I still am not sure that was worth doing what I did.

In regards to the player, he was the best player on either team, had played for his provincial team for his age group, and to be honest should have known better. I agree I probably shouldn't have said anything, but the coaches (have no supervisor) and know nothing about the game, were doing nothing, and I had a progressivly angry team of 16-17 and 18yr olds on my hands.
This is a bit of a babysitting league. Every team has 1-4 players who have actually played before thats about it. Skill level of probably 8-10 yr olds with crazy teenage attitudes.

One of the main differences in Canada to the US is the Sheer amount of people involved in the games that have never played or have any real clue as to the game of baseball. So as umpires we have a slight Teaching aspect to our roles when doing those types of games. We have some real good ball, and in those Games I would not have done any of these things, as the Coaches would deal with it. This game was not one of those. One a side note, the looking for strikes was just as you guys talked about opening the zone a ball or a ball and a half, simply trying to get things going. It actually lead to more hits rather than more outs in this case. But at least the game was moving rather than walk after walk.

However, My question also Asked for Suggestions to help me for next time. And sorry allowing a brawl to occur when there is some thing I could do to stop it is still not tops on my list.