I actually would, this isnt football you arent supposed to pin a runner down!!That’s the part I was referencing ... and it is all in the eye of the beholder.
It is natural instinct to react to force with force ... I’m not saying punch to punch. I agree if somebody is laying on top of you (force pressing down), your reaction is to push back (force pushing up) to get out. That is what we as umpires have to look at — did it appear a “natural” reaction or was it intentional and malicious (revenge)?
“Blue, she was just defending herself!” Using a word like “defend” will sway me towards a deliberate action.
“Blue, she was just reacting Using a word like “react” sways me toward instinctual action.
Now an interesting twist ... would you consider the catcher’s actions malicious and would you consider an ejection there?