Obstruction or unsportsmanlike conduct.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

NFHS rules, girls' H.S. freshmen fastpitch softball.

Starting with Team B's (visiting team) first batter, Team A's (home team) infielders did the following when their pitcher started her windup:

Starting with the third baseman and going around the horn to the first baseman, the infielders started yelling as loud as possible: Hit it to me batter, hit it to me batter, hit it to me batter. This continued until the pitch reached the catcher.

I was suprised by the infielder's actions because I thought that it was a little league tactic. After the top of the first inning, Head Coach B came to me and quietly asked if Team A's actions were legal. I did not share my concerns with Coach B, but I did approach Head Coach A in a quiet, professional manner and told him of my concerns about his infielders actions. For the rest of the game Team A's infielders yelled the following instead: Erin (the pitcher's first name I think) make her it it to me, Erin make her it it to me.

My question is this: Were Team A's infielder's actions obstruction and/or unsportsmanlike conduct?

Here is the kicker about the whole situation. Less than a week later, Team A's league commissioner notified our association's assinger that I was not to be assigned any games involving teams from his leage because of my unprofessional and unethical conduct of telling Coach A that I had concerns about his infielders' actions. Before you get you knickers in a bunch, under OhioHSAA rules, schools have the final say in who officiates games at all levels in both the regular season and tournament play. Meaning you can call a perfect game and if a coach did not like your officiating he can have you black balled and the OhioHSAA allows it. But be that as it may, I am currently concerned about whether Team A's infielders' actions were legal or not.