My first softball game.
I was a little nervous during the drive to the school. I had called my partner the night before and around noon of the day of the game, but never talked to him. I was worried that I'd end up umpiring my first softball game by myself, which I wasn't too thrilled about. However, about 20 minutes from the school, he called.
We met up in the parking lot, where I decided to take the bases. While both positions have their pros and cons, the base umpire doesn't have too much to worry about except calling safe and out. Being my first game, I felt it would be easier and less stressful.
While we were getting ready, the AD informed us that the game was moved to 4:15 (instead of 4:30) and that both teams were already on the field. We did our pre-game, where a few of my questions were answered. We walk down to the field around 4:10 -- as the visitors begin their infield practice. We're not starting at 4:15.
At about 4:30, we get lineups and ground rules completed and the game begins. Softball is definitely faster than baseball. There's very little time between pitches and the girls don't waste time between batters either.
After the third inning, it appears we might be finishing early. The home team was up 9-0. If we can get them to lead by 15 in the next inning, or 10 any time after that inning, we're done. It was not to be. After the 4th, it's 5-9; the 5th, 9-10; the 6th 11-13. We get into the top of the 7th. The home team has to simply get three outs before two runs score. They do, but only after allowing one run and getting the bases loaded.
It was a good game to learn with. The teams were Freshman level, so it was their first game of the year as well. It helps to know that I could have missed something not-so-obvious, such as a positioning error, and not have a coach yelling at me about it. I probably won't see a Varsity level game this year, so the yelling won't be too bad.
I did make one mistake. In the 6th inning, with runners on 2nd and 3rd and 2 outs, the batter hit a grounder to the shortstop (who I stand about 10-15' behind in this situation). She fields the ball and attempts a tag on R2, but misses. She throws late to first. The player turns around and says, "I tagged her!" as the coach is asking me if she tagged the runner.
I plainly saw that she didn't, but I made one problem: I never signaled it. If, after the attempt, I had yelled "No tag!" while giving a safe signal, there would have been no questions. I thought of my error as the fielder turned to talk to me.
Between innings, my partner came to me and essentially told me the same thing. I told him that I knew where I messed up. He couldn't let it go, though. After the game, during our post-game, he mentioned it THREE other times. It was like he never heard me say, "Yes, I know I messed up," the other times he brought it up. Oh well -- if that's the only bad thing I did, then that's a good first game.
Today was my mandatory dirt clinic for softball at Parkway Central High School. The scrimmage was an intrasquad game. There were about 14 of us that showed up -- it was mandatory for all new (less than 3 years with GSLAU) umpires to attend this week or next week.
We started with some brief reminders while the team was warming up and the field was prepped. After that, we split into two groups: plate and bases. I chose bases.
Many would say it's due to laziness, but that's far from the truth. In reality, the base umpire has a lot more to worry about, and the mechanics for softball are vastly different than baseball. On the other hand, the plate umpire's duties are essentially the same as baseball: call balls/strikes, cover (almost) all fly balls, and cover third when mechanics stipulate. Because of this, I chose bases to make sure I get some experience before the season starts.
I was 5th or 6th in line. I'm paying as much attention as I can to the instructors and watching the umpires to learn as much as I can. We each get a half-inning, possibly less if it's taking a while. Finally, my time arrives. I get into position. Ground ball to the infield -- one out. The instructor puts someone else in to show me how my position to watch the play was bad. (Aside: It's not bad -- it's just not what he wanted. No change.) During this brief talk, another out occurs. I take the line again. Another ground ball -- three outs.
Essentially, I got to do nothing. No practice with cutting to the inside, leading a stealing runner, or even signals with my fellow umpire. Nothing.
I suit up for the plate. When I return to the field, I hear that the team will only play 6 innings. I count -- I would be umpire for the top of the 7th. I stand in my gear, hoping someone decides not to take their turn. No luck.
My dirt clinic amounted to very little personal training. However, I did learn a lot watching the other umpires and listening to the instructors. It also gave me a good indication on how fast the game is (very!) and a chance to see the differences in the game (a lot!). Overall, a great day.
The season starts the 24th. I won't get a game until the 26th due to being out of town. Hopefully, I'll be able to watch another game before I hit the field for my first one -- it really helped for baseball.
I had my mandatory softball meeting today. The classes were informative, but only because I have very little experience in softball.
This will be the first time I've umpired softball, except for a couple of games at the local park last year. I hated doing the games, simply because I knew nothing about softball. I (incorrectly) assumed it was "baseball with a bigger ball." I couldn't have been more wrong. Even though the girls were high school aged, the game was much faster than any baseball game I'd umpired up to that point (this was before I started high school baseball).
With what I know now, I was not ready for that game, and any coach could have eaten me alive if I mis-called something. Now, though, I'm ready. I'm a bit excited to umpire softball, but a bit nervous as well. There seems to be a lot more things to worry about in softball: look-back rule, leaving the base early, and the DP/FLEX rule to name a few. However, I know I can step on the field and do my best, which is all someone can ask.
The season starts on the 24th. I'll be out of town until the 26th, when I hope to either get a game or at least go and watch one. I did that for the baseball season, and it really seemed to cement everything I'd learned. You can read books, run mechanics, and practice until your legs are sore, but watching that one game helped me group all that training into one being: an umpire.
I wasn't expecting any more games at SLAA this year, but I received a call an hour before a game was to begin. One of the teams was trying to make up an earlier rain-out, and umpires were needed. I only live a few minutes away, so I grabbed my gear and went. I wish I hadn't.
The game was Midget 2 level (13- and 14-year-olds), so I wasn't expecting much (Honestly, I don't expect much from any level at this park). My partner was a regular from another field; I'd never worked with him. Like the teams, though, I don't expect much from my partners here.
I started the game a bit early due to some ominous clouds in the distance. After ground rules, we breezed through a 1-2-3 top of the first. In the bottom, there were a few low pitches that I called balls. I could hear some grumbling in the away team dugout, but I ignore it. After another pitch, however, I hear "Oh, come on! Those are strikes!" loud enough for the other dugout to hear it. I call time, look to the dugout, yell "Coach, that's your warning for arguing balls and strikes," and write it down on my [homemade] scorecard. Amazingly, I hear nothing else from him.
After the inning and during the pitcher's warm-up, lightning strikes nearby. I clear the field. During the delay, it rains for a few minutes, which usually doesn't turn out good for this field. After 30 minutes of no lightning, I bring the players back on the field to continue. We finish the game with no delays but several periods of rain.
In the top of the 3rd, runners on second (R2) and third (R3) with two out. A grounder to the right side ends up a close play at first. The other umpire calls the runner out. The away team coach asks me if he can appeal the call (at this point, every player is off the field). I inform him that he can talk to the other umpire about the call. A minute or so later, the coach is asking me if the runner was safe or out. It appears the other umpire has allowed him to "appeal" the call -- to me (I told you I didn't expect much!). I inform the coach that at the time I was watching R3 coming home as well as the touch of third by R2. He didn't say anything else.
The umpire also has a bad habit of coming to stand next to me between innings. I mention to him that safe/out calls are not allowed to be appealed. He seemed surprised about the statement. I also informed him that even if I had seen a different call, I wouldn't have thrown him under the bus and changed his call. He again seemed surprised.
In the top of the 4th, the pitcher throws a ball about 2 feet short of the plate. It somehow bounces through the catcher and hits me on the right thigh, about an inch from my cup. It's times like these that I wish it had gone that extra inch. I'm sure a bruise will come over night.
The away team wins in 4: 17-4. Game was called due to time limit. There's a possibility of one more game at SLAA -- we'll see.
I was going to work the bases -- my first in a while. The local field's Juv II team (Tigers) against a team I'd never seen before. When we walked onto the field, the visiting team only had 5 players -- and no coach. We completed ground rules with an assistant coach and started the timer. After 15 minutes, no other players (or the coach) arrived. I received my show-up pay and left.
I hate forfeits. Everyone that shows up took the time to get there, but the game can't be played because of someone else not taking the time to do it. This is the first forfeit of the year, and it happened on the last game of the season for the park. I might get an All-Star game, but I think we're doing the smaller kids, so I may not be interested.
Being the last game, that makes it my last baseball game of the year. I've got softball starting in about a month.
It's official! After scoring a 100 (out of 100) on the Part I test, I am now MSHSAA (Missouri State High School Athletic Association) certified!
The next step is to become a member of GSLAU (Greater St. Louis Association of Umpires). I've got a phone call meeting with one of the employees on Tuesday, so I'll be finding out a lot about how it will work. I've heard they start memberships on October 1, so I want to make sure I'm set up for that.