[Tru_in_Blu]

I work about 50 slow pitch games a year, about half of which are 1-man games. So maybe I total 30-35 games on the plate.

I do work the slot. I've never been dinged by a foul ball but have had a few close calls. Sometimes on the flat pitches that some of these guys try to jump on, I barely have time to declare the pitch illegal and they're swinging and fouling the ball back, sometime very close to me. Other times, less accomplished players will try to hit the ball while it's over their heads which can also result in an odd trajectory for a foul ball.

I considered using one of the fielder's masks, but the one I got had a strap that went from the top of the mask to a connecting strap in the back. There was no way to be able to use the mask and wear a cap at the same time.

I've worked with 1 umpire in 10 years that wore a mask in slow pitch. Most of the women catchers do wear a mask.

Still knocking on wood...