I had one of those SP nights where I helped contribute to the insanity.
We got a 2-2 count on the batter. Pitch comes in higher then a kite and I brain lock, don't call "illegal pitch", of course it lands right in the middle of our little mat. So I agreed with the less then pleased batter that it was an illegal pitch and do a retroactive illegal pitch. Which causes the pitcher to get all in a funk. He never gets over it.
Then that team is now batting and pitch comes and hits the mat. I call strike and the batter does this stare down at me . Pitcher throws another pitch ,we have strike three.
Batter who never took his eyes off me "says you know I wasn't ready" and gets pissy but goes to the dugout pretty quietly.
Next the original pitcher comes up and hits one of those "shots heard round the world" that goes at least 4 feet in front of the plate. Catcher grabs it and the batter--runner clearly jumps out of the running lane about 3 feet into fair territory causing the F2 to miss the throw. My partner comes up with the dead ball-"out" . Ball game is now over. All hell breaks loose.
By the time I get to 1B area, where the aforementioned pitcher is almost nose to nose with the BU, 2 more players are screaming at him. So I was able to run off the late comers to the party with oh so professional "what the %$#! is wrong with you.....then I dealt with pitcher man who proceeded to call me a not so nice name...So i ejected him and he filed a complaint on me about the late illegal pitch call. **sigh**.
So did I screw the pooch on the "late" illegal pitch call ?
Should I have held the pitcher up while the batter stared me down ?
I know I shouldn't have cursed,but in my defense the players were out of control, my cursing did clear out the late comers, bringing the party to a manageble sitch.....