Quote:
Originally Posted by Billyball
Had a Championship game last night. ASA slowpitch one man system
Team A in the field is up by 3 in the bottom on the 7th. Bases loaded with one out. Batter rips a deep line drive between the right fielder and the right center fielder. I come out between home plate and the mound to see if it will be caught....all runners are moving as it appears it is a gapper. The right fielder dives and makes an unreal catch of the ball and I signal out. Now the runners on first and second are scrambling to get back and tag. It was chaotic. The runner on second gets back and tags and makes it to third. The runner on first goes back and does not advance as the throw come into to second. Runner on third has scored.
When I call time the away team is going crazy saying the runner on third never went back and tagged. To be honest the whole play was to the right field area, and the play on the bases was going to be at second on either a catch or a hit. With all the runners action on first and second and the ball being hit to right field I never saw the runner on third tag or not tag.
They appeal and I call safe as I did not see it and they are going crazy. Catcher bitching that the game should be over and how could I miss that. As fate has it the next batter hits a 3 run 2 out HR to win the game for the home team.
What could I have done any different. How can a one umpire game see all three runners on base while trying to figure of if the outfielder has caught or trapped the ball?
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First, it is the league's fault for expecting a one umpire system to cover the entire field. It WILL break down and leave some things uncovered.
Second, I think it is great you ask what you could have done differently; despite the fact that your hands were tied by the one umpire system.
Third, of course the defense says the runner you cannot see left early. What else would they say? Even if the runner was camped on the base the whole time, the defense's own players never looked until well after they were sure their outfielder had caught the ball; so of course the runner was not on the base that long. You could have 6 umpires and that would be the claim.
Fourth (and easy to Monday morning quarterback); in hindsight, may have better to have trailed down the first or third base line (foul side) than head toward the circle. Possible tougher angle on the catch/no catch depending on which outfielder dove in which direction; but it would have put all three bases in the same one side of your peripheral vision, and the lead runner in sight.
That may not have allowed you to see if the runner on third was close; but would have clued you to him leaving early and never returning.