From my experience with officiating basketball and now baseball I can tell you that rulebook wording is not always cut and dry. Heck, there are companies selling books on interpretations of the rulebooks. NFHS puts out casebooks and interpretations as well.

 

So when one official/ump reads a rule he/she may not interpret it the same as another, thus, the need for interps. You often have to go to a casebook or an interp to get a clearer picture of what the intent of the rule is and how it should be applied in certain situations. It's almost like reading a contract.

 

The original poster's point is there needs to be something like a T in basketball. Fair discussion and question and obviously the NKBUA has interpreted the current rulebook to allow for something similar, thus, it was applied. The KHSAA will have to decide on how to proceed.

 

The kid was fortunate.

Not going to wade into the deep end on this, but the only thing that I think Oldercoach is trying to point out, is that there's no "middle ground" with baseball. Umpires either let everything slide...or....you eject the kid and have him serve a two game suspension. That's it. Those are the only two choices. With the other sports, the officials have a way of enforcing a "teachable moment" without having the kid necessarily exit the game (and future games). At least that's what I'm getting out of all of this.

 

I agree that this is ripe for discussion.

 

I am just not real big on the "heat of the moment" as a defense for a more significant punishment.