Show me the ball

[DaveASA/FED]

Ok I was BU last night in a rec league 16U game. Big action play throw from 1st to 3rd to get a girl trying to advance to 3rd slide in nice low tag mitt gets forced to ground, I am there and say "Ball......show me the ball" so the fielder brings her mitt away from the runner and opens it up and lets the ball start rolling toward the front of the mitt. I sold the out while trying not to laugh. Inbetween innings I had a conversation with her and the coaches explaining us umpires just want to see that she still has the ball so showing it enclosed in the mitt is fine, don't need to open the mitt and let it roll around.

And to those who will say there was no control, she had it wrapped up as she brought it up and then turned the glove over and opened it to show it to me. Just thought the whole thing was kind of funny the look on her face as she opened that mitt like ok, here it is.....

[wadeintothem]

definately a voluntary release.

[DaveASA/FED]

Yep that was my thought exactly!!

[archangel]

I had posted this on a baseball site-- Story from a fellow official as PU. Close play at the plate, slide, tag, dust ect, w/ runner and catcher both on their backs at home plate. When asked "show me the ball" catcher,with glove still on the runner, pulls ball from behind his back barehanded and holds it up....

[SC Ump]

Mine was 12U, about 10 years ago. In Sarasota.

I said, "Show me the ball" as F2's glove was under the runner who slide to a stop. She pointed with her other hand, "I got it. It's under her." I said again, "Show me the ball." I could see most of the glove but not the ball.

F2 tried to pull so hard that her hand came out of the glove. The runner then jumped up in celebration. The glove lay on the ground with the ball still in it. I called an out. I got a little bit of grief, but not too much.

(I was taught was told you don't say, "Show me the ball" until after the play is finished, and if it is dropped after that then, it is definitely "voluntary release.")