[aceholleran]

In a game where dugouts had LL-style chain-link fences in front of them, I had a doozy.

We had R2, B-R hits safely, an outfielder chucks it homeward, but the throw is errant.

What ho! An arm comes out from the side of the fence and actually catch the bounding, still-live ball. The rock was absolutely in the field of play. The arm belonged to HC of defensive team. I saw the "catch" before my pard did, and immediately killed the play.

I ran in from my spot, furious, ready to toss this cretin. As I get near my pard (an excellent umpire, BTW), he says, "Don't run him, Ace. I'll deal with him."

I stuck around while Pard chewed the guy out, but I remained silent. R2 was awarded home, and we placed B-R on 3B--2 sacks from his spot at the release of the horsehide.

Should I have just stayed on the field and not gone after the guy? Should I have EJed him, despite what Pard said? Your move, gang.

I guess that every time we can avoid an EJ, it's a good thing, but I was fuming. The event remains one of the most knuckleheaded stunts I've ever seen a coach pull in my umpteen years of this avocation.

Ace in CT