t might be a good idea to click also the Part IV link above to help you recall the set-up for this series. For those who don’t like to surf around, here’s a brief summary: Home team Porter plays visiting team Hanna in the championship of an 18u fall tournament. Because of unforseen circumstances, I’ve already had to work three straight games. The final game goes into overtime, and my plate umpire has to leave. On a transfer play — "He’s out. " The ball falls to the ground. I signal the fielder dropped it trying to throw to first — I eject the pitcher, who wasn’t even involved, after his remark to this effect: "We need a transfer all right, you to Matamoros [Mexico]."

The second ejection

I love flashbacks, don’t you? A great American film is Sunset Blvd. It opens with scenes of a body floating in a swimming pool and a voice-over (William Holden) explaining how the body got there. Two hours later we discover that .... My wife doesn't like spoilers, so I won't reveal the ending.

This is my flashback. The second ejection I’m going to explain happened before the first ejection, so this will be about the first ejection in the game but the second I wanted to describe. Is that confusing? You ain’t seen nothing. Wait until you hear about the amateur coach of the Porter team.

Continued...