Ruling

Have to eat it. Runner's out on the "catch." Hope that everyone remembers this is kiddie ball and everyone's going to make mistakes.

I used to remind parents the umpires are learning the game just like the kids are. I told them neither the players or umpires are MLB quality. Then I made the mistake of telling parents to wait for high school for quality umpiring. Then in high school the umpires were mostly half blind, immobile, retired guys since the games were at 3:30.

Amen brother, my ultimate HS low was a BU with R2 and no outs running out to RF, from his position in front of the SS to cover a routine fly ball. When caught, he back peddled to the infield (OK he never really got out of the infield, but he backpeddled) only to take the throw to third off his ample gutt and declare everyone safe, including batter who's batted ball was caught. He gave him second for "umpire's interference".

Needless to say there was a lengthy discussion about this situation, coach was ejected before the HU could convince the BU that he couldn't overturn a fly ball caught in the OF, then they argued about reversing a call AFTER the coach was ejected and if this was legal, given another play had occured (ejection).

There were other great moments in HS ball, but that was probably the low.

I don't remember how it wound up, but this was a varsity game at the highest level of HS play in Arizona a couple of years ago not JV or freshman, I think they actually screen those guys.

That's one of the things I've always advocated--moving HS to the evenings. I'm fortunate in that my association has quality training, evaluation, and mentorship, so we have a quality product on the field. However, being able to use our guys efficiently is a challenge with work schedules. Next year, I'll be at a different job than I've had for the past nine seasons--I don't know if I'll have the flexibility to leave work at 2:30 or 3 to be at a field by 3:30. I may just have to do a college-only schedule.

Matt, I agree with moving HS games to evenings, however there are 2 problems with that IMO.

First, in Ohio, at least, it very often is not warm at 5pm when game starts and down right cold by 7pm in late March early April.

Second and more importantly, most HS do not have lights here. Actually I know of 2 in about a 50 mile radius that he plays in.

Maybe other areas start earlier since you said something about being at field at 3:30pm and simply moving back to 5pm start time would work where you live?

I am NOT going to defend some of the actions described here -- but will point out that there are apparently plenty of opportunities for those who love baseball to get or stay involved in the game.

(And, believe me, the assigners know about "that guy" but the choice is often let the game go uncovered (which might mean it can't be played depending on the area) or let that guy work.)

Unless the field does not have lights, the varsity games here usually have a start time of 6 or 7 pm.  JV is usually much earlier - 5 pm.  With only 1 or 2 exception most hs baseball fields in our region do have lights.

Here in VA our weather is a little better, but the games early in the season (March) can get pretty chilly.  I've at through a few that were almost in the high 30's by the end of the game.

There is at least one field where the games cannot start until the sun goes down due to the orientation of the field - the plate umpire and catcher are looking straight into the setting sun.

There is a sad reality to some HS baseball in that oftentimes the Umpires scheduled for the contest are not the best umpires, just the most available ones....

In a reality where there is a chronic shortage of umpires for all levels its just not possible to have enough Umpires to be able to do games at 3-4 PM while holding regular jobs. Assignors, understandably, will use umpires whose schedules can accommodate the start times.

I have been a HS certified umpire for many years, but working a full schedule of HS games has never been possible due to the scheduling difficulties with my full time job.There are very few HS fields in my area who have lights to do night games, or the ground crew assets to get a field ready in any adverse weather conditions...if it rains in the morning, the game often is cancelled....

.I have seen top varsity games go to retirees and rookies while Saturday am JV ball be done by NCAA level umpires.....all because of starting schedule timing.....  

I do my best to get assigned 2 HS games a week but once I factor in rain outs and re-schedules, I often only get to do half...

The Chandler school district here in the Phoenix area has a policy of not installing lights on their baseball fields. I never understood why. One HS actually had lights but removed them when the new neighbors in the newly developed area behind the park started to complain (like they didn't know they were there when they moved in).

Our HS would try and move Friday games to a 7pm start whenever possible to allow more parents to attend. It's not just hard on umpires to leave work at 3pm, it's hard on parents as well.  I really appreciated the night games, especially when it gets hot in April. There might be 30-50 people at 3pm game, but we'd get a hundred easy at a night game.