2011 Rankings: 14U

[lenderman]

Coaches fault? Umpires fault? Just a personal opinion but it IS the coaches job to protect their players from unfair or incorrect calls. From the stands, there did not appear to be any abusive or emotional communication between the umpires and the coach. There were several trips during the course of the game from the dugout to the umpires to discuss questionable calls. I did not witness any Lou Piniella or Billy Martin tirade. The umpire was not out of line to toss a coach. It is their perogative. The umpire was WAY out of line to call a championship game in the bottom of the 7th because he had had a long day of disputing questionable calls. the girls were cheated out of an opportunity. Imagine an umpire forfeiting a game because Billy Martin kicked sand on his shoes, or Lou Piniella called his mother a bad word. And even with that,.. I did not witness any abusive behavior from the coach.

[lovesoftball22]

Lets discuss

I think it is a coaches right to request a review of a play call. which transpired. Field umpire vacilated not even remebmering which call was made...and caused more confusion. AASA coach understandably not happy with call walks to dugout muttering that it was a horrible call-which the umpires did look a little unsure with reverting their call then re calling the call.

Now here is where it gets a bit more dicey. Home plate umpire follows said coach while said coach is walking to his dugout shaking his head...WHY???? Home plate umpire then informs coach that he needs to go to his dugout or leave field. Said Coach goes to dugout. umpire starts back for home plate and turns and sees coach on the steps of dugout which is in dugout and where he has been calling pitches) Now Home Plate umpire Reiterates in a derogatory tone..."In dugout , I dont want to see your face " Hmmmmm??? what call is that ? so said coach says I have to call pitches, umpire says again "I dont want to see your face, in or get out" so he goes in...play resumes and the out is made girls come in off field. Coach greets girls and lets them know he will be leaving..as he is talking Umpire comes back over to inform him that he needs to get in dugout. --the game is on break between innings and we are yelling at coach WHY?

Coach informs umpire -I am leaving...umpire says the face thing AGAIN...Which is very derogatory and not really appropriate way of handling the issue-- Coach reiterates I am leaving ..and turns around and umpire CALLS BALL GAME...

Note to coaches: if a umpire tells you to get in dugout...it may mean ...its like being kicked out but you stay where not seen...or it may mean go cool off this issue is dead. If you get this umpire it can mean many things and its never over. It wasnt a very clear intention on the part of the umpire-- the coach and both teams did pay for the lack of clarity by the umpire.

Coaches fault for questioning a call...hmmm lots of coaches do that
Coaches fault for not agreeing while walking to dugout...Lots of coaches do that

Umpire to call a game mid 7th inning is ---dare I say it--stupid--

Make the call and kick coach out...if you feel warranted , but to banish someone and be derogatory while doing it, and then continue to beat the horse when everyone has moved on is stupid.

Girls played with class and good sportsmanship on both sides. Parents were cheering appropriately..not overly hyped..on both sides.very calm game...so no real need to go to that level of "Control" if you will --by home plate umpire..It is the championships for crying out loud..Game was more about him than girls ...so send a message to coaches...dont question or ask and dont mutter to yourself...and grapettes org better keep it consistent as I have seen quite a few coaches a lot more over the top (that day in fact) and they didnt call the ball game.

Umpires do have a rough job no doubt about it...but if you can handle a little bit of the heat you shouldnt be umpiring at this level.

[sftbalmom]

Definitely agree with previous comments. AASA Coach did not do anything that most other coaches do when there are consistant bad calls, question it. Being in softball for many years, I have personally seen numerous coaches act a lot worse and get a warning or maybe ejected from game, but have never heard of an umpire calling a game for that reason. It was a good game and who knows what would have happened had AASA had their fair opportunity to play the last inning. The bottom line is that those girls were cheated out of a possible championship game because of an umpire on a power trip.

[underdawg5]

My team was not there this past weekend and I have watched this AASA staff in the past and have never seen anything wrong or out of line. The more I read from you folks the more it sounds like the umpire did not do his job and shame on him for not letting the AASA girls hit in the bottom of the inning no matter if the game was close or not. Why not ask the coach to leave to finish game......but it doesnt even sound like he had grounds for a move like that.


Congrats to RR and AASA to cap off two solid 14U tourney's at Arnaiz.....more to come.

[Iluvblue]

The coach is either ejected or he is not. This " I dont want to see your face again," if that is what was said, is totally out of line. The coach can either coach his team, or he cant. Then for the ump to keep making comments yelling at the dugout????? I wasnt there, so I dont want to condemn the blue, but if events were as described, I would have just been tossed and got it over with, none of this sent to the corner like a 5 year old crap for me.

[sftbalmom]

"I dont want to see your face again" was actually said from home umpire to Coach at least 3 times.

[lvtwft]

Anyone have a description/name/picture of said umpire?
I want to make sure if I get him, I bring a mask with me so I can still call pitches but yet still follow his directions..
I think a Ronald Reagan mask should do nicely

[Bdad73]

I might be a little green to how a protest works in TB Fastpitch. But if there was still time on the clock why couldn't a protest be requested and the TD summoned?

[lovesoftball22]

TD hustle everyone out, no one took the time to nor energy to figure out what had happened. Parents were now outraged and yelling, where they were calm before, and it just became a little bit of a melee. It was almost a mute point---The umpire was so over the top --I am not sure you could have gotten a fair game at that point to finish..so...

[Big Papa]

A bit off the active subject but what happened to watchatonofsoftball?? Is he watching no softball?? He used to post on everything and anything and tried to be the northern brackey but he is nowhere to be found these days. Where are your updates watch????