Controversial Call (No Call)?

[RKBUmp]

Sometimes I wonder if it may actually be better to be a little stricter on the younger ages regarding conduct. That way they are getting the message earlier rough play wont be tolerated, and then maybe we wont be dealing with it at 18G level.

Now that you have brought up this subject, I had my first ever ejection of a player last week. This also was a qualifying tournament, 14U and the home team was being handled by the visitors. Things had been getting a little more chippy as the game progressed and I had just warned F1 of the home team about hard tags on runners. In the bottom of the last inning, the batter cue balled a grounder up the 1st base line which was spinning wildly just along the foul side of the line and rolled about 40' toward 1st. F3 moved up, straddled the line and just as the ball got to her it spun across the line into fair territory. F3 picked up the ball, was standing completely stationary just holding the ball waiting to tag the batter/runner. Initially the batter hadnt run because the ball hit well foul, but now is trucking down the line obviously disgusted. F3 did nothing, just stood there holding the ball about a foot from her body waiting to tag the B/R. Just as she got there, the B/R raised her fists up into her chest, stuck her elbows out and just blasted F3. I clearly saw the look of pure anger on her face as she did it and I immediately tossed her on the spot.

This was an instentanious decision on my part and was based as much on the look I saw on the girls face as well as the physical hit. I truly believe this girl intended to do physical harm. It was a very publicly displayed action, and as I said I immediately tossed her on the spot. After the game we were discussing the game with the UIC in the umpires room when the tournament director interjected he prefers player ejections to be kept private and not public. He said I should have just called time, called the coach over and told her we needed a sub because #5 is being ejected, there is no need to embarass the girls with a public ejection.

My question is, public or private ejection? I would tend to agree if the girl had done something that was not public, such as mouthing off or cussing at me where no one else really heard it. In those instances no one else is really aware of what has happened. However, in my situation it was a very out in the open and public display of aggression and I believed it warranted an immediate and public reaction from me. Opinions?

[Gulf Coast Blue]

I once ejected a 10U girl for USC. She over-slid 2nd by a good bit on a steal, rolled over onto her backside and started to madly kick at the F4 and her glove (I assumed she was trying to knock the ball loose) as she attempted to tag her while off the base.

I did wind up calling time and the runner out....(even without a tag).

I think you handled this well Tony......I am sure you were caught a little off guard as was I when it happened.

Joel

[CecilOne]

TD is wrong (if they are allowed to be). That blatant and VISBLE act needs to be VISIBLY handled. Not to say over kill on a signal and not rubbing it in incitefully, just immediate and visible, then quietly being sure the coach gets the notice and the message.

As far as the above about NCAA on TV, not a good example for us or good precedent. Those cases have been beaten up and down in other topics, but seem to have more to do with where they are, high level coaches, umpires with too much concern about the status of the games, etc. Not instructional for us on MC, UC, OBS, INT, etc.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

After the game we were discussing the game with the UIC in the umpires room when the tournament director interjected he prefers player ejections to be kept private and not public. He said I should have just called time, called the coach over and told her we needed a sub because #5 is being ejected, there is no need to embarass the girls with a public ejection.

That's idiotic. The action you described MUST be handled publicly.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

Sometimes I wonder if it may actually be better to be a little stricter on the younger ages regarding conduct. That way they are getting the message earlier rough play wont be tolerated, and then maybe we wont be dealing with it at 18G level.

Now that you have brought up this subject, I had my first ever ejection of a player last week. This also was a qualifying tournament, 14U and the home team was being handled by the visitors. Things had been getting a little more chippy as the game progressed and I had just warned F1 of the home team about hard tags on runners. In the bottom of the last inning, the batter cue balled a grounder up the 1st base line which was spinning wildly just along the foul side of the line and rolled about 40' toward 1st. F3 moved up, straddled the line and just as the ball got to her it spun across the line into fair territory. F3 picked up the ball, was standing completely stationary just holding the ball waiting to tag the batter/runner. Initially the batter hadnt run because the ball hit well foul, but now is trucking down the line obviously disgusted. F3 did nothing, just stood there holding the ball about a foot from her body waiting to tag the B/R. Just as she got there, the B/R raised her fists up into her chest, stuck her elbows out and just blasted F3. I clearly saw the look of pure anger on her face as she did it and I immediately tossed her on the spot.

This was an instentanious decision on my part and was based as much on the look I saw on the girls face as well as the physical hit. I truly believe this girl intended to do physical harm. It was a very publicly displayed action, and as I said I immediately tossed her on the spot. After the game we were discussing the game with the UIC in the umpires room when the tournament director interjected he prefers player ejections to be kept private and not public. He said I should have just called time, called the coach over and told her we needed a sub because #5 is being ejected, there is no need to embarass the girls with a public ejection.

My question is, public or private ejection? I would tend to agree if the girl had done something that was not public, such as mouthing off or cussing at me where no one else really heard it. In those instances no one else is really aware of what has happened. However, in my situation it was a very out in the open and public display of aggression and I believed it warranted an immediate and public reaction from me. Opinions?

Was this the game on Saturday night that was really chippy? I didn't realize that you had an ejection in that game.

You absolutely did the right thing...in that case, everybody needs to know that the player has been ejected because everybody saw what she did.

Tournament UIC and I had a discussion about Mr. TD and his interactions with the umpires.....we will be requesting a few changes in his involvement going forward.

[RKBUmp]

Yes, was the last game on saturday night. Home team was not happy they were getting run ruled, and of course it was entirely the umpire crews fault. Oh, and we also appeared to have a couple of beaning attempts on the plate ump late in the game. I wasnt too sure about the first one, I was 95% on the second, but PU didnt say a word so neither did I.

I thought I was plenty obvious on the ejection, I probably actually yelled a little too loud "youre gone" and pointed to the direction of the parking lot. But apparently the head coach didnt figure it out until the player was back at the dugout. Then she came stomping across the field claiming her player "only raised her arms up to protect herself". Protect herself from what? F3 was standing motionless waiting to apply the tag.