I’m a day late in writing this post. But hey, can’t expect me to rush home from a game and instantly start blogging about it, can ya?
Anyways, yesterday I worked my 4th game, another middle school game. This game was between Carolina Day School and WCAA (they are a team made up of homeschooled students). I was in the field for this game, only the second time I was scheduled to work the field.
The game was pretty good, through four innings it was tied 2-2. In the top of the 5th inning WCAA opened up a three run lead on a bases loaded double. And again, in the top of the 6th, they added on another three runs with a bases loaded bunt.
Yes, I said a bases loaded bunt…let’s just say, the Carolina Day players learned how to throw the ball around. It started off when the pitcher fielded the ball, was going to throw it to the plate but saw that the catcher was not near it, then he turned to throw to first base for the out. Unfortunately, there was no one there! Once the right fielder got the ball, the throwing around just continued.
There were a couple calls that I made during the 6th inning that I am sure that I blew. But that comes with learning the game and proper mechanics.
In the top of the 6th one of the WCAA players was caught in a “pickle” after being picked off first base. When he was sliding into second base, I must admit, I was blocked by the short stop that was making the tag. Although I SHOULDN’T have called him out without completely seeing the tag, the ball was there in plenty time for the tag to have been made. So, I called him out to end the half inning.
In the bottom of the 6th inning, after a play was completed (I cannot remember exactly what was going on with the play), the Carolina Day runner on first started to “lead off” and the pitcher quickly threw the ball over to the first baseman. The first baseman made the tag and I called the runner out to end the inning. Now, here’s the “funny” part of that play, I am not sure if the plate umpire called “time” before the play or not! I believe that he may have. If he did, he should have made it right by letting everyone know that the ball was “dead.” He didn’t, so the play stood and the inning was over.
Here’s another example of my inexperience in calling games. The starting pitcher for Carolina Day would continuously “go to his mouth” with his pitching hand between pitches. During the first inning, when I first saw it, I didn’t say anything. But, after the second inning, when he was still doing it, I mentioned it to my partner to keep an eye on him, but I still did not call anything on it.
So, why didn’t I call it? I wasn’t 100% sure of what the ruling would be. A pitcher can “go to their mouth” as long as they are NOT on the pitchers plate and as long as they DO wipe it off (or at least makes it look like they are wiping it off). The ruling, according to the NFHS, is that the ball is instantly dead, if no runners are on the batter is awarded a ball, if there are runners on it is considered a “balk” and all runners are awarded the next base, the pitcher is warned, and if it happens again, the pitcher is ejected from the game. I could have called something, but without knowing the rule completely I felt it was better to just let it go.
In other news…
I took my exam for the State and passed with a score of 89. I do not know which 11 questions I missed yet, the full results will be posted on Saturday, but going over the rule number given there were a few that were “no brainers” that I must have misread the question, or something. Either way, for being a rookie, I didn’t do too bad. Even a couple veterans said that is a really good score for a first year official.
Also, tomorrow is Game 5. I was quite surprised to see this assignment…a Varsity game. And guess what?…I’m behind the plate for it! Talk about throwing me to the wolves!
