LITTLE LEAGUE thrown bat

[LRZ]

I don't know what is so silly about a local rule addressing thrown bats in kiddie ball, allowing for warnings and possible ejections. A thrown bat is dangerous, both for the young players and umpires, and we often work in small cage-like backstops where bats ricochet.

In the one youth league I worked, there was such a rule. I've given warnings--about which, no coach ever complained--but with common sense and preventive officiating, I never had to eject a player. Neither I nor the catcher was going to get hurt by a flying bat, if I could help it.