Ball under fence...coach...

[chris s]

We are starting our all-star stuff now. We have practice tourneys for the 9-10's so they get acclimated to enforcement of balk rules and managers understand line-up cards and such. Most of these leagues play continuous batting, runner can't leave till ball reaches catcher, all coaches yell at umps, etc...

Well, last weekend, I am working a 9-10 tourney, we have portable white fences. I'm sure you guys have seen them(the ones that blow over all the time). Apparently, TD told the managers that any ball that rolls under fence, have fielder hold up hands, BU will go out to see, keep the runners moving.Nobody told us!!

Plate meeting...
Chris: Mangers, you are the team liason with us. We wil answer any rule interp question from you. Judgement calls are that, no discussion. Base coaches come screaming onto field, they will be watching from the parking lot. We deal with ONE person only.

MGRS: Got it

Third inning...

R1 and R3, Br smacks a good one to the LC gap, ball skips on wet grass(YES< FOG!!!! 8 am start) I clearly see ball shoot under fence, kid raises arms up.Bu raises arms, I mimic and call time.We place runners and try to move on, but a scorekeeping dugout coach decides to start riding pard from dugout. I politely tell him to can it and we play on.Inning ends.

Between inning 1/2's...

Pard comes to me saying, "I think they want us to go check on those" I sez, "I saw that clearly under fence, F$$$ em" We both agree, F$$$ em! Scorekeeping bench coach then walks to me, "I got a question for YOU!" ( I heard him whining bout the fence call to anybody that would listen for the last 5 minutes, so I knew what he was gonna cry about) I then say, "What question would you have for me, you are not the manager, go away, hey catch, BALLS IN" I then walked away. 3 pitches later, pard(police officer) sent him packing.

Moral of the story....

Set the boundrys at the meeting with the MANAGERS. And stick to them.....