What to say to a coach...

[tribefan1952]

I had a one-sided Freshman game a few days ago. After about 4 innings the score was about 18-0 and the losing (home team) coach was getting very frustrated. They couldn't seem to get anyone out. You know the routine... dropped 3rd strikes, dropped pop-ups, dropped throws to 1st base, hits, walks, hits, walks, etc... Finally, after about the 8th hit of the inning, this wild-eyed moron comes charging out of the dugout like it was the 7th game of the world series and points to a footprint in the dirt. He kept screaming, "she stepped out of the batters box!"... "she stepped out!"..."she stepped out!" He must have figured that it was the only way this poor team was ever going to get another out, so he was relentless. I didn't see her step out, and I was about to tell him that I was sorry I hadn't seen it and I couldn't call anyone out based on a footprint. I was trying to think of a good way to say this when I took a look at the smoking-gun footprint. Much to my relief It was smack in the middle of the front line of the batter's box. I calmly told him that if any part of her foot hit any part of the line, she's IN the box, (like a fair ball hitting the baseline). I didn't make a scene and I didn't go out of my way to make him look like a jerk. (He was.) He quietly walked away shaking his head and mumbling. The rest of the game was relatively uneventful.