PONY NATIONAL 18-U Raleigh, NC

[MichaelVA2000]

During the PONY 18-U quarter finals last week in Raleigh, I'm behind the plate with the score tied and we are in the bottom of inning ten during ITB play.

One out with runners on second and third base. First pitch comes to the batter and bounces three times before it reaches the plate. I have ball one. Second pitch comes in and it also bounces several times. I have ball two. This was the first game of the morning so I'm thinking, ball might be slick so I ask the catcher if the ball is wet, she says no, we're walking the batter. As the third pitch is on it's second bounce toward the plate I signal and call an illegal pitch, batter makes no attempt to hit the ball. I then award a ball to the batter, and advance the runners. As the runner from third touches home plate I declare "folks, that's the ball game!"

At the time I didn't remember the exact section at the time, but it's Rule Seven, Section five

Defensive coach is going nuts wanting to know why I called an illegal pitch. I explained that he could find his answer by reading rule seven in the 2004 PONY Rules and Regulations manual.

Sure hate to end em like that but I call em as I see em.

Life is like a big hot dog, and every day's a bite. Someday's you're just hungrier than others.

Michael