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Everyone Stopped!
As relayed to me by a colleague, who was BU:
Sitch: 12U ASA tourney game. No runners. BU calls an IP because F1 leaped on the pitch. He said it loud enough that everyone heard it. Batter hits a ground ball to F6. Then...nothing. BR doesn't move from the box, F6 doesn't make a play to first, nothing. F6 simply throws the ball back to F1.
As soon as the PU sees the lack of activity, he goes to the head coach (in the third base box) and tells him that there was an IP, resulting in a ball on the batter. He never waited to see if someone would get a clue and make a play, nor did he ever kill play before explaining the effect to the coach. Play resumes with a ball on the batter, much to the chagrin of the BU.
So, what should have happened? Wait and wait and wait until either F6 throws the ball to first and/or the BR takes off for first? Kill play and rule the BR out for abandoning her responsibilities? Kill play and inform the coach of the effect?
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"Let's face it. Umpiring is not an easy or happy way to make a living. In the abuse they suffer, and the pay they get for it, you see an imbalance that can only be explained by their need to stay close to a game they can't resist." -- Bob Uecker
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