TIME OUT or PLAY ON?

[Steve M]

Some years ago, while umpiring the bases in a tournament, there were players from another team playing pepper or something like that just beyond the centerfield fence. Several times their ball came onto the field and we stopped play each time while the F8 ran out to get the ball & toss it back to them. It got annoying. So I fixed it. I had F8 give me the ball and I tossed it - right into and across the empty soccer field that was on the other side of 3B. I could hardly lift my right arm for the next couple of days, but that was a long throw. Can't tell me that players and parents won't cheer for us umps.

Anyway, the other team decided to either be much more careful or move - 'cuz no more extra balls came onto the field.