[JefferMC]

I'm probably writing the wrong audience, because this wouldn't be an issue with the caliber of umpires that are on this board, but...

Last night I was watching a 15U recreational game. Several times I watched one team's first baseman set up to receive the throw with her left heel on the foul line and her toe in foul territory. Single bag first base. Most of the time, it didn't matter, as the throw was horrible and the player had to leave this position to try to get the ball, or the throw was plenty early and there was no real affect on the BR.

However, on at least one occasion the play was close, the BR slowed on the last few steps to try to step over the first basemans leg and as a result got beaten by a tiny fraction of a second and was called OUT by the BU. The entire bench of the offensive team was up screaming that the first baseman was blocking the base and the coach wisely told them to quiet down. However, the coach just ate the call and went on with the game.

Me, I would have had to had a talk with the BU. Pretend you were this BU: What words out of my mouth would be the most likely to make you, as BU, re-examine this situation and at least wonder if you got this call wrong.

I've thought of:

"Did you see the runner slow to step over the first baseman's leg?"

or

"What was missing from that play for you to have called obstruction?"