Fair or Foul

[Linknblue]

Guess I should'a said, single man umpiring. I think I'm liking Dakota's solution best........oh well. Thanks

[UmpireErnie]

Similar situation..

We have a complex with two dedicated fast pitch fields and two set up for slow pitch. On a couple of dates we need to use the slow pitch fields for fast pitch. Temp fences are set up which do not quite extend to the foul lines on either side so a dead ball line extended from the end of the temp fence to the side fence.

My feeling was if I had doubt that a batted ball went over the line on the fly or if it bounced just in front I was going to call a double.

[teebob21]

Originally Posted by UmpireErnie

Similar situation..

[snip]

My feeling was if I had doubt that a batted ball went over the line on the fly or if it bounced just in front I was going to call a double.

Ernie, I agree with you there. This spring I worked a 14U/16U friendly that just had cones set out out at about 190 feet to mark dead ball territory, instead of fences. We agreed at the pre-game meeting to play "cricket rules": over the line in flight is a HR, past the cones on the ground is a ground-rule double.

Runner on first, ball hit to dead center. I went out on the hit from B position (which I almost NEVER do in 2-man system) and saw the ball land just past the imaginary line between cones. I kept my eye on the spot in the grass that it hit and ran out to confirm. Yup: home run.

Long story short: Opposing coach went to the parking lot early after informing me that I was "200 feet away from that call" and informing my partner we were "the worst umpires he'd ever seen". Never mind the fact he was winning by a dozen at this point...

If I had it to do over again, I might call it a double.