imontheline

The revised format for this year's winner bracket side wasn't Blackman's friend. In years past they would have played the 6th seed in their first game. They have a regional berth already so not a lot of pressure on them.

Should have cleared the stands. Made the parents hold their fight club in the parking lot.

Should have cleared the stands. Made the parents hold their fight club in the parking lot.

That's going to be plate umpire's call. He has the best view of a lefty gaining ground on his pick to first, with either 2, 3 or 4 man crew. There is a whole lotta wrong going on with drawing a line like that. I don't think his integrity should be in question. Maybe his experience is minimal and his training is not what it could be. I'd bet your team's coach has already contacted the assignor and civilly discussed what happened.

Siegel is a good bet to make it back to state next year. If you think home field advantage was that big of a difference maker, you have almost a year to make your case to TSSAA.

I heard his agent/handler wouldn't let him pitch. Then when he said he was ready, the coach wouldn't use him.

If Blackman doesn't sweep, Stewart's Creek finishes second. The loss to Smyrna in the 14th inning last week was huge. They have had a very good year in district and that loss was disappointing.

Where is the video? I'm sure if it got that bad someone would have captured this umpire sticking it to your team on video. There is always going to be a jack wagon or two you will see during a season who are either going to just plain stink, be a jerk or even both. My suggestion is to get it on video, send it to the assignor. They will handle it. They don't want people working for them who are going to cause problems. I umpire and know I have never intentionally favored one team over the other. But I'm guessing, there probably was some parent somewhere over the years that felt the same way about my umpiring. Especially when I was first learning.

Should be a fun year. Going back to 3 games series.

From what is sounds like, the game must have been called a complete game according to the rule book. This is from the NFHS baseball rule book. I officiate baseball only and don't have access to a softball rule book but this is likely similar if not the same. Rule 2 Section 2 Article 3 ï‚· A game ended by the umpire due to weather or darkness is a regulation game, if five full innings have been played, or if the home team has scored an equal or greater number of runs in four or four and part of its fifth turn at bat than the visiting team ï‚· A game ended by the umpire due to weather or darkness is a regulation game, if play has bond beyond five full innings ï‚· A game ended before the teams have had a equal number of completed turns at bat shall have the score at the end of the last completed inning o except if the home team ties or goes ahead of the visiting team in its half of the incomplete inning Article 4 ï‚· A state association may adopt game-ending procedures that determine how games are ended, including suspended games. However, if a state does not adopt game ending procedures, by mutual agreement of the opposing coaches and the UIC, any remaining play may be shortened or the game terminated. If a state association has adopted game-ending procedures, only those game-ending procedures may be used, should the opposing coaches wish to terminate a game.

Umpiring must have improved over last year. There has not been as much umpire bashing this year on Coacht. I know the games I umpired were done so better than last year.

Working scrimmages for free before the actual season kicks off is one of the ways you get better. I'm not talking about a way of giving back to the sport. If you aren't willing to work free scrimmages to learn and get better then you probably don't have the desire to move up. That's fine. Those who want to improve their schedules, improve the level of games or move up to a higher level work for free. If the first paid game of the year happens to be the first time you've stepped on the field since the fall, I don't think you are prepared for that first paid game. In that, I think you take away from the sport. This applies to all levels, not just the college level.

College intrasquad scrimmages start this week. They will go for about two weeks. Our local high school association has the privilege of getting to use this time for preseason work. Ive gone out every year for free to get better. I would guess half of our group comes out at least once during those two weeks. Probably half of those come out for 2 or more days. I encourage every umpire to get out and do some free games, college, middle school or high school. Even if you don't get to work an inning, you get to observe and learn. Do what you can to get better, and "don't suck!"

Touche' Rulesman. Do you tote your Fed rulebook and case play book with you to work? Looks like I need to.

From OBR rule set but applicable in all rule sets including Fed. 8.05d "It is a balk when" The pitcher, while touching his plate, throws, or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a okay. The accepted interpretation is that if the runner is stealing, than the pitcher can throw ahead of the runner while still on the rubber for "the purpose of making a play". Driving back the runner is not considered making a play in this instance. If the runner fakes a steal and the pitcher while still on the rubber throws ahead of him to an unoccupied base, then it is a balk. I think this is just one of those misunderstood rules.