No -- in the opposite corner of the country for this one.

I had one game that was in a VERY recreational coed league. Neither team could get an out if a fly ball stopped 3' above the ground and just hung there. I'm BU, and my partner's behind the plate. One out, infield fly situation, so we give each other the signal. Fortunately, the batter popped up to the pitcher, and we now have two outs.

I glanced around and saw that no one was looking at me except my partner, so I used a VERY subtle non-ASA "mechanic." Instead of wiping the "possible IFF sitch" clean, I tapped my arm, pretended to inject something, and cocked my head slightly in a "please kill me now" gesture.

PU had to hold up the pitch for a good 15 seconds before she regained her composure. ;)

I just talked to someone who was at the game who said the BU apparently did see the "flipoff." Home team and/or fans told the PU about it first and the BU confirmed that it happened. Raises a funny question, though, in light of the "If I didn't see it I can't call it" theory: Should the BU have been the one to do the ejection since he saw the USC and the PU did not?

BTW, I don't think the flipper is playing softball this season.

In ASA, any umpire has the authority to eject a participant. Can't imagine NFHS would be any different, so... Yes. BU should have done his/her job and ejected the flipper. Ignoring it doesn't do anyone any good.

I would have ejected her myself as BU and have in fact done so in a similar case (although it wasnt a flip off).

Gotta agree with this one. :) I sometimes wonder if it's cause our local big dogs are college umps and that has translated into our Associations culture.

Most college umps, especially big wigs, are ASA trained. The mantras of "keep everyone in the game" and "If you have more than 2 ejections per year, it might be you" and this other garbage I've heard at times make it so much harder on all the umpires in the long run. It is short term thinking. Ejections serve to train coaches. I don't put up with their garbage, and I'm glad to say my "big wigs" fully support my game management, and they are more than aware I will run someone when they earn it.

I've never seen a team lose a game because a coach got tossed. They are not necessary once the game starts. There will be an assistant coach ready willing and able to step in the box and do some signs. There is no reason "to keep them in the game" at the games expense.

Players get less slack than that.

The bottom of the food chain, assistant coaches, even less.

I wonder what people would say if I told them that I've had 10 ejections in one year. :eek:

Just kidding. All of them were justified (mostly collisions and throwing of bats).

I hope you guys don't get flipped off by 14-year-old girls too often!

What are you doing to make them run into each other and throw bats?:confused: ;)

I guess I should close my PCP stands next to the dugouts...

most of mine are coaches or male FP players (none though this year and only 1 warning.. but the season is young!)... and I got you probably doubled counting coaches and players. whats the deal with the bats?

Are you asking seriously? Or being facetious? :)

I've never ejected for that.. so I'm asking what would cause so many? What is a typical situation where you eject for that?

ASA's Rules Supplement #52 says that if a player throws his bat in anger, eject. It's very much USC, not to mention extremely dangerous. One guy threw his bat from the 1B foul line (halfway between HP and 1B) all the way to 3B. Another guy popped up and threw his bat to the fence on his dugout's side (1B side) of the field, nearly clipping one of his own teammates in the knees.