Two questions:
I am playing an away game against a private school who is not a TSSAA affiliated school. On my way to the dugout from 3rd the umpire hands me a ball and asks if I have any more game balls because the ones he has are pretty rough. I look at the ball and it has a nasty scuff from a line drive off the left field fence. I notice it is a Wilson A1030 with no NFHS stamp. I look at the ball and look at the opposing coach and shake my head. I'm not going to say this is the case BUT they're field is 300' and being they are a young team the thought did cross my mind if they were playing with this ball to even the playing field to keep balls in the park, and that is ignorantly supposing that the A1030 has less pop than the A1010. I had 6 brand new A1010 (with NFHS stamps) that I keep in my bucket and almost gave them to them but thought with my luck it would come back to haunt me so I did not. I gave the ball back to the ump and told him I was playing under protest. He looked at me wide eyed and I told him I was joking.
Fast forward to the top of the 7th inning, I'm down 8-6 with one out. Their pitcher is on the mound in the stretch. Take the sign from the catcher, LICKS HIS FINGER and starts his wind up and pitches. Batter grounds out on a breaking ball to 2B. I call time and approach the HPU and tell him to which he responds he did not see it. What the...seriously man, you have one job! It is what it is but what should be the call in that situation? He also would take the ball and rub it in the dirt on the mound, legal?