- Aug 19, 2011
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This past weekend 10yo DD playing 12u ran into an umpire who would only call a strike if it was right down the middle. Luckily it was a rec league and the batters weren't super lethal, but all she had in her current bag of tricks was keep it low, crank in as much drop as possible and hope the fielders were up to it. Even if she had a curve (which she doesn't) it wouldn't have helped. She pitched the second of two games; the umpire (I am not making this up) told her team's pitcher in the first game to "slow it down and throw it down the middle." Which got him an earful from that pitcher's mom after the game.
DD kept a positive approach and pitched really well (the hard-won Ks and one inning with only two balls seemed like a moral victory), and the coaches seemed to know the ump and take a "what are you gonna do?" attitude, but it's the first time she's encountered that particular umpiring philosophy. Seems like the kind of thing that's likely to get somebody hurt.
DD kept a positive approach and pitched really well (the hard-won Ks and one inning with only two balls seemed like a moral victory), and the coaches seemed to know the ump and take a "what are you gonna do?" attitude, but it's the first time she's encountered that particular umpiring philosophy. Seems like the kind of thing that's likely to get somebody hurt.