[mattmets]

Saturday I had a Sr. Babe Ruth (16-18) game, working by myself. It was raining all day, finally in the bottom of the 6th, with the score tied, the rains come. So the game is suspended, continued tonight, once again I have it alone (don't ask why).

This game is played on a field with no lines drawn past first base (this will be important) Top 7, after an error and a walk, Home coach decides to IBB the 8 hitter to get to the 9 hitter, who is 2-3 and tied the game in the 6th. So bases loaded, 1 out, and I'm by myself. Next batter lofts a fly ball down the right field line. So in my head, here's what I'm keeping track of- Fair/foul, catch/no catch, proper tags, runners touching bases, potential time play, not getting hit with a throw, and keeping my *** out of trouble. Well of course, ball falls. F3 is standing on the bag, so I have to scoot a step or two inside the line to have any view at all, while staying to call anything in the infield. Since there's no line, I have to make a snap judgment, I call it fair.

IT hits the fan. While the ball is LIVE, runners circling bases, players running around screaming, coaches screaming....it's ugly. So finally, after 3 runs score and BR is on third, Home coach comes running out of the third base dugout. This guy talks in a loud voice anyway, but he's not happy with me. I give him the stop sign and say coach, if you're going to yell at me, I'm going to run you. We can talk, but you will not stand here and yell at me. He goes off that I can't run him if he doesn't curse....anyway, he's arguing, and while he's arguing he bumps me- not sure if it's intentional, but doesn't matter. GONE. No doubter. So he goes crazy, his assistants are yelling, but he finally leaves. I tell his assistants he was ejected for making contact with me, not for arguing. Stupidly, I ask who's now in charge and if he wants to discuss it. I discuss the play with this coach for 2-3 minutes, not arguing, not cursing, just discussing it. We end it, move on, Home team ends up losing as the last batter strikes out on two pitches near his nose.

SO, my questions:
1) Were my mechanics right at all on this play? I feel like they were very wrong, but being by myself with the bases loaded, what was I supposed to do?

2) In handling the argument, other than volunteering to talk to the new head coach, how did I do?

3) In general, what did I do wrong here? What things did I do right?

ANY feedback is appreciated, since this is near the end of my season and I'm figuring out what I need to do better next year.