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It was a JV game, all was going quite well until the bottom of the 7th. Bases loaded, 2 outs, tying run on third, one ball, 2 strikes on the batter, this guy is most likely the third out. The pitcher starts stepping in on the rubber and proceeds to fall backwards over the rubber and obviously balks. I don't want to call it since the little things have been let go until now. The opposing team yells balk, so not seeing it isn't an option. I think for a minute on how I don't have to call it and then I do. Tying run scores, batter gets out as expected. Instead of visitors winning the home teams wins it in the bottom of the 8th. The coach who got the call against him asks for a warning (doesn't happen), says he wasn't on the rubber yet (that's how he fell over it), I let other balks go (this one was right in the middle of the field with everyone watching), there was no deception (yes, but it was a balk anyhow according to the rules), he knows it was a balk. I didn't want to call it, but technically it was. Did I do the right thing? I hate to have a game be decided on a technical call, but I don't choose the rules I want to enforce.
Ed H
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