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Jul 2, 2013
381
43
There have been quite a few "coach hit by ball" stories but not enough "umpire hit by ball" stories so here's one.

We were playing in a 14A tournament on fields that are pretty much back to back. Between innings I would turn around and watch the field next to us. During one of those times I was lucky enough to witness a girl foul a ball off that went straight down, bounced between the catchers feet, and straight into Blue's nether regions. He let out a loud moan and collapsed into a heap. The ump on our field turned around and ask what happened. We explained the situation and he said "These young kids refuse to wear a cup. That's what they get". The aforementioned injured ump writhed in pain in the dirt for the next 5-10 minutes while both teams watched silently. Eventually the UIC came down and replaced him on the field. Another ump helped him up and back to the shack. I later saw him sitting in a chair with an ice pack on his crotch. I doubt whatever he was paid that weekend was worth it.
 
Feb 18, 2014
348
28
There have been quite a few "coach hit by ball" stories but not enough "umpire hit by ball" stories so here's one.

We were playing in a 14A tournament on fields that are pretty much back to back. Between innings I would turn around and watch the field next to us. During one of those times I was lucky enough to witness a girl foul a ball off that went straight down, bounced between the catchers feet, and straight into Blue's nether regions. He let out a loud moan and collapsed into a heap. The ump on our field turned around and ask what happened. We explained the situation and he said "These young kids refuse to wear a cup. That's what they get". The aforementioned injured ump writhed in pain in the dirt for the next 5-10 minutes while both teams watched silently. Eventually the UIC came down and replaced him on the field. Another ump helped him up and back to the shack. I later saw him sitting in a chair with an ice pack on his crotch. I doubt whatever he was paid that weekend was worth it.
Same story, 16u, caught the catcher in the same nether region.

Girls are tougher than boys.
 
Aug 2, 2019
343
63
I saw a couple good umps hit by pitches episodes last year.

Picture this.

10C
Pitcher is bringing heat.

53-55 on the ball coach.

Did I mention 10C

Lefty catcher that can't get to the up and in pitch.

After about the 8th time the ump takes one untouched, he's yelling at their coach to put in a girl that can catch, or get the pitcher out of the game. Parents are pissed and yelling. Coaches are pissed and yelling. The ump is pissed and yelling. The pitcher is shook. My DD (on the smaller side) then wears one. Goes down like a sack of you know what. Never even made it out of the batters box. Down, and carried off. This causes more kerfuffle. Half their team is crying, all of our team is crying. It was a mess.

Fast forward a couple months. Same girl blasts an ump in the throat. He goes down. Can't breathe. The amberlamps get called and hauls him off. Lot's of drama surrounding that episode as well, I'm told, but fortunately we weren't involved in that one.
 
May 2, 2018
200
63
Central Virginia
D
I saw a couple good umps hit by pitches episodes last year.

Picture this.

10C
Pitcher is bringing heat.

53-55 on the ball coach.

Did I mention 10C

Lefty catcher that can't get to the up and in pitch.

After about the 8th time the ump takes one untouched, he's yelling at their coach to put in a girl that can catch, or get the pitcher out of the game. Parents are pissed and yelling. Coaches are pissed and yelling. The ump is pissed and yelling. The pitcher is shook. My DD (on the smaller side) then wears one. Goes down like a sack of you know what. Never even made it out of the batters box. Down, and carried off. This causes more kerfuffle. Half their team is crying, all of our team is crying. It was a mess.

Fast forward a couple months. Same girl blasts an ump in the throat. He goes down. Can't breathe. The amberlamps get called and hauls him off. Lot's of drama surrounding that episode as well, I'm told, but fortunately we weren't involved in that one.

Did that team even have a girl that could catch her? If I were the ump, I would be dodging at some point.
 
Aug 2, 2019
343
63
D


Did that team even have a girl that could catch her? If I were the ump, I would be dodging at some point.
The first incident, they were playing the best catcher they had. She was better than most at that level, but that up and in across her body was killing her. And the ump. The second incident, they had the backup in. I think the starting catcher was struggling with the heat that day. The backup was probably wiped out too. 4th game of the day, and they pitched the flamethrower every game.
 
Jan 8, 2019
664
93
Men's slow pitch league about 25+ years ago. (No one was wearing any protection in SP back then.) Game adjacent to ours had a guy swinging for the fences, completely whiff, and let go of the bat at the tail end of his follow through. Bat helicoptered straight back (somehow), hitting the endcap of the bat SQUARE on the face of the blue. He went down hard and fast, but after a long quiet spell, he was able to get up. I heard he was "OK" but I'm sure spent some time in the ER that night
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
DD pitching 14U throwing 60. Sunken plate. Runner on 3rd. She throws a drop ball a little short. The catcher leans forward to try and trap the ball. She misses the ball. The ball hit the edge and shot up untouched over the catchers shoulder and nailed the ump in boys. In the mean time the runner heads home and scored. To his credit the ump stood long enough to make the safe call and then collapsed on the ground in the fetal position. He was a young guy. His partner came over and laughed at him telling him "I told you. You have wear a cup." The guy just groaned at him. He did eventually get up and finished the game.
 

osagedr

Canadian Fastpitch Dad
Oct 20, 2016
280
28
Coaching first year of 12U when DD was still playing rec; had sisters on the team who were really fun but had never played before. Most players were in their fourth or fifth year of ball. Prolly 1/3 of the way into the season; kid swings at a really high pitch so I call down from third base coach's box "Good swing Hope! Only swing at strikes if you can!". So the kid strikes out for the third out; we go back to the dugout and I put my arm around her and I'm like "Hey great at-bat; but remember to try to only swing at strikes." She looks very sheepishly at me and says "Coach...I don't know what 'strike' means."

Always cover the basics!
 
May 1, 2018
659
63
There have been quite a few "coach hit by ball" stories but not enough "umpire hit by ball" stories so here's one.

We were playing in a 14A tournament on fields that are pretty much back to back. Between innings I would turn around and watch the field next to us. During one of those times I was lucky enough to witness a girl foul a ball off that went straight down, bounced between the catchers feet, and straight into Blue's nether regions. He let out a loud moan and collapsed into a heap. The ump on our field turned around and ask what happened. We explained the situation and he said "These young kids refuse to wear a cup. That's what they get". The aforementioned injured ump writhed in pain in the dirt for the next 5-10 minutes while both teams watched silently. Eventually the UIC came down and replaced him on the field. Another ump helped him up and back to the shack. I later saw him sitting in a chair with an ice pack on his crotch. I doubt whatever he was paid that weekend was worth it.
I had this happen to an ump while I was coaching 3rd. He got hit right in the junk, didn't go down but quickly turned away and was trying not to cuss. Fastest time I've ever called. Got my batter and just stood there with her and said "We are just giving the umpire some time here, you're doing just fine keep doing what you are doing". I told the catcher for the other team to go hang out with her pitcher for a min. Umpire looked at me gave me a thumbs up, didn't charge me for the time of course, then was back at it. Quick lesson on how we take care of our umps or try and draw attention to them when they are hurting.
 

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