IYellAtUmps

Powell defeats Bearden 5-4 in the first round of Region play. Dalton Long goes 5 1/3 innings and gets the win, despite giving up a first inning solo homerun to Elijah Helton, sending Powell further in the tournament than they have ever been since joining AAA baseball. Powell will play Farragut for the Region Championship on Wednesday. Location is TBD. Hats off to Lane Thomas and Bearden. They are a HARD hitting team with some outstanding athletes. Tonight's game was the best high school game I have seen in a LONG time.

Surprisingly enough, I kept my mouth shut. Seems as though there were plenty of others picking up my slack. I doubt I would have been heard anyway. LOL

.....very well said

Situation: Home: Karns 3 Visitor: Clinton 3 Bottom 7 Field umpire has already made 2 questionable calls, involving huddles with the home plate umpire, at first. Lead off runner for Karns gets on 1. 2 balls no strikes on the hitter Pitcher starts delivery and the field umpire throws his hands up, yells "TIME" (yes, he yells time) and sends the runner to 2 after explaining the pitcher balked. Clinton coach comes out to argue to no avail. Home plate umpire announces a 3-0 count on the hitter and puts the ball in play. The batter then bunts out to the pitcher. Runner on 2B does not advance. 1 out Runner on 2: Batter hits a ground ball to the right side hole. 1B dives for it and the 2B gets to it and throws to the P covering first on a bang bang play. Umpire in the field calls the batter out at 1. Karns coach calls time from the 3 coach box and appeals to the home plate umpire. Umpires huddle up and overturn the call at 1. This is the where the Clinton coach comes apart. After some arguing he's sent back to the dugout and the field umpire walks all the way across the field to the Clinton dugout pointing at what is believed to be a Clinton Asst Coach. The field umpire wont leave the railing of the Clinton dugout. The field umpire stays over there in a confrontation with the Clinton bench even after the Clinton Head Coach gets between them. 1-2 mintues pass and play is resumed with no ejections. Runners on 1 and 3 with 1 out. Next karns hitter is intentionally BB'd to load the bases. Next Karns hitter draws a walk to score the game winning run. Ballgame. Clinton Head Coach follows both umpires off the field "sharing wisdom and experiences".

I don't guess anyone heard what happened at the Loser's bracket Championship game for District 3AAA last night.

You're right. I knew I was close with Cason Lane. I lived off Cason when I went to MTSU. Chaffin Place is right across the interstate from Cason lane. So it was close enough

Cason Lane area. Lots of hotels and restaurants within walking distance. A decent location to be able to get to both schools. The Double Tree hotel is very nice. I've stayed there before.

$35/game is a very fair wage for 1.5hour time limit. As for KSGoVols - You get what you pay for in this world.

the only thing you have right is the fact that central will be last.

I would umpire, and have, but coaching takes up too much of my time and there's something about a conflict of interest. Once the season is overwith, I usually go back to umpiring travel baseball but this year I am deploying for 6 months. If you'd like, I will try to get my APO put up on here so you can send me some care packages.

I was trying to give umpires the benefit of the doubt by saying "most", implying "the majority". Allow me to be even more clear by defining "majority", in small words so you can understand, as being 51% or more. Make "cute" comments concerning semantics all you like, but the bottom line is something has got to be done about the high school umpires calling in East TN. Better/New supervision. Quality control. Better training. After-game critiques by other umpires. Appearance Standards or "D" all of the above. Heck, I'd be happy with a comment box.

Most umpires do work hard out there. I'm more than happy to give credit where credit is due. They show up early, they look sharp, keep control of the game and know the rules. That's all any coach, player or fan can ask for. That being said, it's the umpires who show up looking like a bag of rubber clown noses that make the rest look bad. Unfortunately, those are the umpires that are remembered. Here are a few things that IMHO "make or break" an umpire. Appearance - Look official and you are considered "official". That means wear a uniform that is clean and FITS. Be clean shaven/well kept and have a smile on your face. Remember, you're being paid for the best seat in the house. Professionalism - Be courteous and respectful to coaches. Even if they are not in return. This includes not making any comment come across as condescending. Intelligence - Know the rules. So often are there times when the umpire simply doesn't know the rule. This simple fact is the quintessential difference between a good and bad umpire. Hustle - Be in the proper position to make the call. No one expects you to be able to run a 4.3. At the same time, there should be a very visible effort to be in the correct location to make the correct call. You can be in position, miss a call and no one will say a word. Be out of position and make the correct call and the line for complaints will form on your right. Etiquette - Everyone knows that there is an etiquette to "arguing" a call. Don't get "butt hurt" if someone goes jogging by between innings (without giving the appearance that they are talking to you or saying anything for that matter) and says something (that only you can hear) about a call. As long as it's a respectful comment, it's not personal. It's actually a "professional" way of saying their piece without trying to "show you up". Understand these things few things and you will go a long way towards being treated a lot better in the high school baseball world. Don't, and you will all continue to have tomatoes thrown at you.