[BretMan]

My first "game" of the season wasn't officially a game- it was a scrimmage. And it wasn't just "a" scrimmage. It was three games, a three-way triple header between three different teams! They limited the games to a two-hour time limit (finishing the inning) and each game took two hours, plus change. I did the bases for the first game, then the plate for the next two. Wound up working a total of 17 innings in over six hours of baseball.

My first scheduled "real" game was cancelled due to a downpour the previous day that turned the field into a swamp.

Finally, last night, a real game! Varsity game between two inner city schools that was an error-filled affair. 13-3 run-rule victory for the visiting team, in six innings that took two hours.

Some highlights:

- We called three balks. One where the pitcher started his pitching motion from the set position, then stopped when he glanced at an advancing runner. Another similar one where the pitcher began his move to the plate, then threw to a base on a steal. One where the pitcher did an jump-turn move to first, but failed to throw the ball.

- Twice, had a pitcher throw to third base with a runner on third, where F5 was playing away from the bag. Offensive coaches wanted a balk, but we weren't giving it to them (because it's not a balk).

- A routine infield fly call that turned into a three-ring circus when the second baseman botched the catch. Runners thought that they had to advance, the defense threw to second base thinking it was a force out and the runner from first thought he was out and walked off the field and into the dugout. Now he was out! This one had timing play implications, as one runner slid across the plate a few seconds before the plate umpire called the other runner out for abandonment (he was the third out).

- A batting out of order call that was discovered before the improper batter completed his turn at bat. He was replaced by the correct batter without penalty. Still, the defensive coach wanted us to call somebody out. Sorry, Coach, that's not the way it works...

- I had three swipe tags at first base, due to three wild throws by infielders.

- We had two rundowns that where nicely bracketed on both ends by me and my partner.

- I had an obstruction call against F3 who was daydreaming as the batter-runner rounded first base on a hit to the outfield, causing a collision and an award of second base.

Just another typical fun day at the ballpark!