Thanks from a coach

[Rufus]

We wrapped up our all-star season yesterday with a loss 8-4 and finished the state championship 5th out of 14 teams. That was great and the boys played well.

I wanted to say thank you to all who have helped teach me the rules of baseball but, more importantly, how to act like a gentleman on the field. Two situations that occurred in yesterday's game were a direct result of my learning here:

• We're on defense, R3, 1 out. There's a pop fly in foul territory on the 3rd base side. As our 3rd baseman is going after the ball R3 is scrambling back to 3rd and runs into our fielder, preventing him from getting to the ball. I ask for time and then ask if there is interference on the runner. The umpires huddle and say that "in their judgment" the fielder wouldn't have been able to get to the ball. As soon as they used the word "judgment" I knew we were done talking and went back to the dugout. A younger, less wise and informed, me would have pushed and probably ended up in the parking lot. The PU later came up and said he missed the call (i.e., he didn't see it) but it's not a big deal, stuff happens.
• Our BR hits a soft liner to RF that gets picked up and gunned to 1st for an attempted putout. The ball gets passed the 1st baseman and rolls into the dugout. Our BR had obtained 1st by the time it went into the dugout out of bounds. The umpires awarded two bases. The other coaches argued but I knew this was the correct call.

Thanks again. This game is much more enjoyable when you get more comfortable with the rules. You all have been very patient with me and my questions and I wanted you to know I appreciated it.