LL Softball on ESPN, MI vs TX

[argodad]

During my elliptical machine workout this afternoon, I watched part of the “Big League World Series” championship game on ESPN2. This is LL’s 18U division. The field was bad (grass infield), the softball was bad (mid 16U level, IMHO), and the umpiring was bad. We bashed some of the guys on the baseball LL World Series crew, but they were pros compared to what I saw today.

For example, U2 made a solid out call on an attempted force at second (as the ball rolled across the grass infield). OK, maybe he was blocked. But after he changed his out to safe, he gave a sweeping “off the bag” gesture. U3 made a beautiful sell-safe call on a girl sliding into third – as the ball went four feet over F3’s glove and into left field.

And what is this “double-pump” sell safe mechanic? (A “book” sell-safe is followed by bringing the hands back together, then back to the safe position – sometimes repeated a third time.) More than one LL umpire used it. Is this a baseball mechanic? Do you use it in your part of the country? (I kinda like it, but I don’t think it would fly with our Florida UICs.)

On the other hand, you’ve got to hand it to Little League for getting their sports televised. Nobody even comes close in baseball or softball.