Tony Bolodar

Review of Plano Sports Authority

I have been a player, umpire, League director, equ...

I have been a player, umpire, League director, equipment director, and a coach 4 over 50 years. This season I took on a new team a 13-14 year olds. We finally got to start playing baseball in June.
The umpires we had at this level where the absolute worst I have ever seen. Not only did they have inconsistent strike zones but they missed simple plays at first base second base third base and home.
One game they called my batter out for interference causing my team to lose the game. The Umpire that made this call came to me and apologized before the next game citing he was incorrect on his call. A lot of good it did for my team after the fact.
During this season I wrote two letters to the league director complaining about the umpiring. I did not cause scenes at the field or argue calls on the field because I also believe in teaching sportsmanship to the boys.
As a result the umpires made sure that my team did not advance past the first round of the playoffs. The home plate umpire would call a strike outside of these the zone and then look at me for an argument. The last batter in the top of the first inning threw his Bat striking my catcher above-the-knee. The boy said something to the Umpire as he was going to The Dugout about The thrown bat. The umpire told my catcher that the player did not throw his Bat. My catcher was the first batter in the bottom half of the inning and when he hit the ball his Bat was behind him and he kicked it on his way to first base. The home plate umpire picked up the bat just outside the batter's box and issued a warning to my catcher for throwing his Bat. He was then pushing me for an argument which by the way I did not give him. I believe he was itching to throw me out.
My previous experience allowed me to understand what he was trying to accomplish. He later tried to incite an argument with me saying we were chirping From the Bench and he wanted it stopped. Again I did not give him the pleasure of the argument or the ability to throw me out of the game. After 50 years over 25 years in coaching young men I quit! I just do not see how a man can do that to young boys. What he did was not physical abuse but mental abuse to this team. My top hitter was swinging at balls over his head because he did not know what this guy would call. It was the only game all year that he did not reach base buy a hit or a walk! These boys could see what he was doing and yet play their hearts out. We were the better team and had the officials been Fair and called the game fair we would have no doubt continued in the tournament.
I do not recommend baseball at PSA. The organization is set up for certain teams to win. It is not an honest organization. When umpires hold grudges because of letters to the league director outlining errors they made then the umpires are wrong. I wrote a final letter to the league director and yet over 24 hours later there was no response.
It just goes to show they don't care about the kids. I didn't get paid to coach these kids. These umpires are being paid by the game. You would think they would learn the rules. It's sad when walking out of a ballpark an opposing member dad came up to me and said we were robbed several times during their game. He mentioned several plays that the umpires missed in their favor.
In closing I cannot recommend PSA baseball unless you are a board member a league director or donor to the program. Otherwise plan on getting officiating that is less desirable and other leagues in the area
Tony Bolodar