Appeal, then Protest, then Ejection

[BillM.]

Had a rough game tonight. ASA rules, Co-Ed game. Here's what happened:

Preface- Bob is a base coach for this team. He doesn't play.

Bottom 3rd or 4th inning, there was a bang-bang play at first. Bob’s team was at bat, 2 outs. Batter hits the ball, 1st baseman catches it off a small hop, runs to first. From my perspective, she was going for the tag, but missed the tag. I call the batter-runner safe. The defensive coach appeals my call, stating that she stepped on the bag in the process before the batter-runner got to first. Recalling the play, he was correct, and I grant the appeal and call the batter-runner out.

Here’s where Bob comes unglued. He comes up to me and says “But you called him safe! You can’t let the other team make a call for you! Never in 35 years have I seen such a thing” I told him that they appealed my call, and due to my mistake, I overturned it I chalked it up as a correctable error. I did see her tag the base. 100% wrong call on my part. He was being huffy, so I told him that if he wanted to remain in the game, he had better head to his dugout.

That was out 3, the visiting team bats, and then at the bottom of the next inning, Bob, on his way to 1st base, says, “I am filing a protest of this game.” I asked, “So you want to protest this game?” and he says, “Yep.” I let the other coach know the game was being played under protest, and explained what that meant.

Fast forward to the end of the game, Bob’s team ended up winning, therefore the protest is nullified. I tell each team good job, and to have a good night, and the visiting coach tells me good game. Bob hears this, looks at me and begins shaking his head in a “not true” fashion. He comes up to me and says “Just so you know, you have lost all of my respect for changing your call. That’s the integrity of the game and you ruined it. I have never in 15 years of playing softball in Clive protested a call and that you (me) should be ashamed to call yourself an umpire.” At this point I told him , “Bob, sorry you feel that way, but you are out of here. You are to leave the field immediately.”

Yep. I messed up my first call. I get that. My bad. Did I let him go too far before tossing him? What do you all think?