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I umpire at the HS level and I also coach a local Freshman/Sophomore HS summer team. I dont ever mention the fact that I am an umpire (although some of the guys know I am because we have called together in the past). I just dont think it gains any credibility to do so. I also will not come out to argue judgement calls (although I will tell them I thought they missed it if it was really bad). However I did do everything I could to get run last summer in a game: My team was on defense, 2 outs, R1 and R2 with a 2 run lead in the bottom of the 6th (7 inning game). Slow grounder to the F6, which he throws in our dugout. Umpires award R2 the plate, R1 third and the BR 2nd. No problem, we still had a one run lead and 2 outs. The OC comes out and talks to the PU. I cant hear what they are discussing, but they are pointing at second base and the PU starts nodding. Then the PU points at the runner on third (R1) and gives him the plate! 3 bases on the 1st throw by an infielder. I came out of the dugout on a dead sprint to the plate like George Brett after the pine tar HR. Both umpires were about 19 or 20 and seemed scared and inexperienced. I asked him how he came up with 3 bases for the runner and he said coach, its 1+1 and the runner had reached second when the ball went out of play. I told him "2 bases from time of pitch" that 1+1 wasnt in Fed Rules etc. He said thats what were going with. Then I told him that he needed to either read his rule book or go back to kiddie ball. He just kept saying 1+1 coach over and over. I could see I was getting nowhere and told him that his call was horse#### and that he had the call right and was a chicken#### for backing down when the OC came out. I am fully expecting the gate (I certainly would have run myself) but he just took it. I proceeded to use some other 4 letter words to describe his knowledge of the rules to no avail, and still he refused to eject me. Of course, the next batter flew out, and we lost in the bottom of the 7th by 1. However, I made it a point to tell my team that we had never lost because of a call and this game was no different. It was our fault for throwing it in the dugout in the first place, so no excuses.
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