In DE, if you are working championship play and all of a sudden you see a group of umpires start to congregate behind the backstop with big grins on their face, you know you are in the 7th with the score tied.
Favorite extra inning story, sort of:
I'm on the plate working the winner's final of a Men's D Regional SP game a few years back. Score was tied with the home team at bat with two outs and a runner on 2 base. A big runner and I'm not talking tall.
Batter hits a shot to CF that F9 covers quickly. Big runner goes through stop sign at 3B and I'm already thinking about my need to hit the liquor store down the street. There is absolutely no way this runner could score. F9 unleashed a frozen rope of a throw to home. I'm in position for an obviously painful overhand out call. All of a sudden, the pitcher reaches out and cuts the throw! The catcher and I are both standing there with a "what the hell was that" look on our faces as the BIG runner waddled across home.
Slightly in shock, I met my partner and we headed to the umpire's area. I say, "Drew, we really dodged a bullit there, didn't we". He smiles at me and said it was no big deal.
"What do you mean, we damn near had to go to the eighth. Didn't you see those vultures behind the backstop?"
Drew said there was never a doubt in his mind and I asked him how he figured that. He says, "Easy, I just yelled 'CUT' "!!!
