The Official Forum - Interesting tournament

Thursday night I was called and asked by a friend if I would umpire a softball tournament on Saturday. It was a tournament put together at the last minute to make up for games rained out. He and I decided we could switch off plates for the four games.

The girls were 10U and my friend and I are most likely the most experienced umpires they will see all season. (We are usually busy umpiring Little League games.)

The girls played quite well, though the catching could use work. I got nailed twice in the same spot on the upper thigh. And once I was glad of wearing a pelvic protector.

But this mean old lady called illegal pitches. Most of the time it wasn't necessary as most of the pitching was legal. One young lady was leaping and I called it. Every time. And she cried. I hate that.

But afterwards, one of the parents came to me and thanked me for calling the illegal pitches. He saw it as being good for the pitchers and was glad to have someone umpiring who would make the calls.

And that was interesting.

Rita