My balloon protector is going with me tomorrow

[RKBUmp]

Yep, had a few of those myself. 16u team, knew I was in trouble when I could see pitcher was throwing at least mid to high 50s without control and catcher couldnt even catch the warm ups. Second pitch of the game the catcher never put a glove on the ball and it caught me square in the elbow. Later the same inning, ball goes between her legs and I dont know what it ricocheted off of, but the ball comes straight up and catches me in the side of the cup and inside of the thigh. There were plenty of others during the game but those were the worst 2. My elbow was turning black before the end of the game and when I finally got to see my thigh it was black all the way down to my knee and had the imprint of the ball and stitch marks in it.

I heard through one of the coaches that this same team about a week later was told by the ump to change catchers. They said they didnt have another and he told them that if that was the case, he was through, the game was over and walked off the field.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

Yep, had a few of those myself. 16u team, knew I was in trouble when I could see pitcher was throwing at least mid to high 50s without control and catcher couldnt even catch the warm ups. Second pitch of the game the catcher never put a glove on the ball and it caught me square in the elbow. Later the same inning, ball goes between her legs and I dont know what it ricocheted off of, but the ball comes straight up and catches me in the side of the cup and inside of the thigh. There were plenty of others during the game but those were the worst 2. My elbow was turning black before the end of the game and when I finally got to see my thigh it was black all the way down to my knee and had the imprint of the ball and stitch marks in it.

I heard through one of the coaches that this same team about a week later was told by the ump to change catchers. They said they didnt have another and he told them that if that was the case, he was through, the game was over and walked off the field.

RKB....you better tell me which team this was so I can have the balloon ready if I happen to draw them someday!

The other trick that I am surprised no one has mentioned is to grab the back strap of the catchers chest protector and move him/her to block the ball as it comes in!

[argodad]

Originally Posted by Andy

The other trick that I am surprised no one has mentioned is to grab the back strap of the catchers chest protector and move him/her to block the ball as it comes in!

I've done it in baseball ... many, many years ago ... but I'd rather get hit than start putting my hand under a female catcher's straps!

Actually, I thought my baseball quote was pretty good as I dragged the kid back into position. "Son, you're the one with the glove. Try to defend both of us."