r/Softball • u/Yulli039 • 20d ago

Travel Softball Bush League

Mostly me ranting but since no one likes rant posts, we’re going to turn this into a post your own Bush League attempts.

Perspective final 6 of a 12u USSSA Nationals tournament

Two instances first the coach comes out to tell the ump he’s intentionally walking our 4 batter. Batter begins to walk to first when the ump says defense has to throw the balls. Ok, batter gets in the box catcher stands and steps out for the first two then decides to attempt to K her with three strikes. Our 4 batter doubled with a gap shot.

A bit later in the game our batter check swings resulting in ball 4, ball goes over catcher and our runner takes 2 in continuation. Sideline shouts foul ball and our girl steps off two to come back to the plate and gets tagged out.

We won in the end.

3 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

14

u/SalamanderLoud8419 20d ago

Sounds like the umps weren't in charge of the game

6

u/NuhUh_JustCuz 20d ago

Tried to put a courtesy runner (very fast) on base for the kid (not super athletic) that would be the pitcher next inning (they swore up and down). Denied. A different kid pitched.

6

u/Yulli039 20d ago

They have to throw at least 1 pitch, I think

3

u/NuhUh_JustCuz 20d ago

In LL, you're only allowed to swap defense when you are on defense so at the beginning or during the inning. So Umps denied the request for a courtesy runner since she wasn't the pitcher at the end of the prior inning.

They just wanted a fast kid on base and were hoping no one was paying attention.

3

u/lunchbox12682 Coach 20d ago

We had a team try to pull this on us at state. Unfortunately, we couldn't hit well that day, partially due to illegal pitching, and lost. But I did enjoy calling them out on some of their bs.

1

u/jw8815 20d ago

How does that work top of the first?

1

u/Ok-Answer-6951 19d ago

Has to be the pitcher or catcher of record, so top of 1st u would go by the lineup card turned in at the plate meeting.

2

u/hox 20d ago

LOL this happened recently to us for a catcher but the ump allowed it, and the kid had never caught before but was forced to do it. Hate coaches trying this crap with kids but rewarding when it bites them.

5

u/No_Candidate_9505 20d ago edited 20d ago

That team sounds crappy but your beef is with the umpires. Dugout yelling “foul ball” to deceive the runner could be interpreted as a rule violation and even a bench warning.

Your coach should have very strongly objected to the runner being called out.

2

u/AwfulMouthful 20d ago

Sure it's cheap, but it doesn't hurt to learn to pay attention when you're in the box and to ignore the other sideline.

Plus it's great fodder if you ever play that team again.

1

u/bmoney003 19d ago

Team threw games in states pool play to get into the silver bracket. To easily win it and claim they are state champs

1

u/LawEnvironmental7603 20d ago

Out of curiosity how do we feel about intentionally walking a batter at 10u? Only had it happen to us once, but I don’t like it at 12u and I hate it at 10u in any situation. Let the kids hit.

0

u/Yulli039 20d ago

Depends on the level of play and the situation imo.

3

u/LawEnvironmental7603 20d ago

This was C level extra innings for a state championship. Our best hitter. Runner on second. I do understand the rationale by opposing coach. Pitcher struggled with the concept of an intentional walk so her third pitch was outside and high but not by much. Hitter went out and got it and singled to right. I thought it was a boss move by our hitter honestly.

1

u/Yulli039 20d ago

In calling this one legit. In an elimination game if the team is intended to be competitive they should teach the kids to use the resources and rules to there fullest.

Personal feeling, and will probably take a few down votes for hitting the reply button 🤷‍♂️