Had a fun one this weekend. 10U TB, game 3 of the day, new umpire behind the plate. Had more than a few strikes called balls in our opinion but nothing crazy. Then it happens.
Batter comes up and swings at first pitch. Second pitch ball, third pitch ball, fourth pitch ball...Umpire says "Ball 4 take your base!" The batter looked at him like "what?". Everyone went silent for a minute. Batter drops her bat and runs to 1st. Coach talks to ump but ump stood firm "my count shows ball 4". Wasn't a game changing moment so coach moves on but parents in the stands are giving the ump heck. He was a grump the entire game - no one could question anything.
We win the game and move immediately to game 4; change fields - ump comes with us. During this game field ump calls our runner safe on 1st because first baseman pulls her foot off the bag (slightly) to catch the ball. Opposing coach challenges the call. Plate ump and field ump conference - plate ump starts to walk back to the plate and says "she's safe" and shows the safe sign. He then turns around, walks back to field ump, says something then turns back to walk to the plate and says "she's out - foot never left the bag". You can guess our stands went nuts! Still no clue what changed his mind in that split second. He would not discuss it with our coach.
Batter comes up and swings at first pitch. Second pitch ball, third pitch ball, fourth pitch ball...Umpire says "Ball 4 take your base!" The batter looked at him like "what?". Everyone went silent for a minute. Batter drops her bat and runs to 1st. Coach talks to ump but ump stood firm "my count shows ball 4". Wasn't a game changing moment so coach moves on but parents in the stands are giving the ump heck. He was a grump the entire game - no one could question anything.
We win the game and move immediately to game 4; change fields - ump comes with us. During this game field ump calls our runner safe on 1st because first baseman pulls her foot off the bag (slightly) to catch the ball. Opposing coach challenges the call. Plate ump and field ump conference - plate ump starts to walk back to the plate and says "she's safe" and shows the safe sign. He then turns around, walks back to field ump, says something then turns back to walk to the plate and says "she's out - foot never left the bag". You can guess our stands went nuts! Still no clue what changed his mind in that split second. He would not discuss it with our coach.