12B Western National

[LT]

I believe this was the 10B Western Nationals in the Pacific NW last weekend......that was the close play in a loser bracket game on Sunday morning.....a game where I was the volunteer scorekeeper. We used local blues to help with scorekeeping duties.

We were told NOT to say anything regarding the umpiring during the game....so my mouth was shut.

Don't know who the umpires were or where they were from (not anybody I have umpired with over the 15 years at levels ranging from local friendlies to state; regionals or nationals).

But, the PU never moved away from the plate the entire game. Never to the holding area. Never up the third base line on plays with a runner on second.

I'm sitting there thinking...something BAD is going to happen.

Well it did in the last inning.

R1 on 2nd with 2 outs. Batter hits a base hit to the outfield.

The BU was in the proper position moving from the 3 or C spot to behind the pitching circle to take the batter runner. He did his job properly....not sure if he peeked over his shoulder to make sure the PU was moving up the line to take the play at 3rd.

My only fault with the BU is that he had to know the PU wasn't moving up the line earlier in the game and should have confirmed that was going to happen in the future. No idea what their pre-game discussion was about.

Anyway, the play was very close at third....The PU just looked at the BU for a few moments...then they met on the infield. Made an out signal and all i**##!! broke out with the parents.

I just finished my scoresheet, handed it in with a comment to the TD that there is an issue on Field #5 and be prepared.

[vcblue]

You are right it was 10u western national. Sorry about that, but with what you said I must ask, 'What was the UIC during during the whole National"? Let's face it this blue probably never moved up the line during the entire tournament, yet the UIC selected him work on Sunday?

[LT]

Can't say much about the UIC....didn't know him; never worked for him at previous tourneys.

I asked one of the "umpire assistants".....individuals that were assisting the umpire crews with water; food, etc....."were everyone evaluated as the practice at Nationals to determine the Sunday crews?"

He stated that each were evaluated on Saturday and the final day crews created from that data.

I know the crew that worked the next game on that Sunday did an excellent job with plenty of hustle; communication to each other; great mechanics; PU had a very consistent strike zone....and as a result, no challenges by the coaches.

[senorazul]

wow..what a mess and corrabarted by a third party..should not be happening at a national...