How would you handle?

[Tru_in_Blu]

Thanx for the suggestions and comments.

I did what some have suggested.

After time was called, we met half-way from his position in C and home plate. After making his announcement to all that it was my call, I quietly told him, that no, sole runner is the BU responsibility. He started with the lead runner is the PU's responsibility at which I mentioned that the term "lead runner" applied to situations with more than 1 runner. I think he got it at that point.

He asked if I saw the runner tag up. I told him that I saw the runner take a couple of steps off the bag once the ball was hit, and then head back. But I did not actually see if she left early. Maybe that's something I should have been paying more attention to, but my immediate concern was possibly helping on a play at third, thinking he certainly had the tag up.

At that point, he turned around and gave a loud SAFE! call/signal and headed back to "C".

Regarding the comment about the head coach getting on another PU for not making a similar call, I don't think we need to worry about that. This particular HS coach is a local legend with multiple state championship teams including a string of maybe 5 to 6 years in a row. His team, staff, and former players celebrated his 500th softball victory last season. Even as a coach, I'm sure he knows a lot more about the HS rule set than I probably do.

After the game, my partner and I discussed it, and I got the feeling that he still thought this was my fault. There was no way he could get inside and watch the catch and the tag on a ball that was hit that hard. And I should have been able to help him out more than I did.

I think he used up his 3 strikes. First, by perhaps taking the play off in the first place. Second, by erroneously announcing that it was my call on the tag up. Third, by continuing to try to implicate me in his misadventures.

If he had conceded that he made a mistake, I could be more accepting. But it was more like, don't worry about what I did wrong, why weren't you able to help me out more.

He's a senior official, on our board since 1998. I'm just the rookie, I guess.

But I do read the book.