Your opinions

[MD Longhorn]

I'm blue now, but this occurred when I was just a player.

2 outs, I'm pitching. Opposing team has 9 players in a coed game, and I'm pitching to player number 9 - the next batter is the automatic out.

I throw 4 straight balls. (Not necessarily an intentional walk, but I certainly didn't give her anything to hit solidly - I'd actually rather gotten her out normally, and started the next inning with an out). Her coach tells her the inning is over, and she heads for the dugout. I ask my catcher for the ball and wait. When she hits the dugout (my team is already starting to leave the field, but I don't believe anyone was in the dugout yet, if it matters), I ask for the ball and toss it to my 1B and tell her to step on the base, appealing the batter never reaching 1B.

Umpire (correctly, I believe) rules her out - 3 outs. And I get to start the next inning with the auto-out afterall.

2 questions - was the umpire correct? Was this bad sportsmanship on my part?

I've always considered myself a good sport - both when winning and losing, but will do anything legal to win a game. I don't think this was bad sportsmanship --- but the other team disagreed very vocally. Just curious to hear your opinions.