In our senior league yesterday, we had a situation that I want to know peoples opinion. We had the bases loaded with one out. Our hitter hits a popup between pitchers mound and home plate. The pitcher lets it drop and tags home plate and then throws to second to get the force out of our runner that was on first. The umpire said that it was not an infield fly because in his opinion neither the pitcher nor the catcher could make a normal play on the ball. What do you think?

If in the umpire's judgement (you called it an opinion which is not the same), the ball was not a routine pop up that an infielder could easily catch, then I will always agree with the umpire. Even if I don't, it is their judgement call. While a 30 year old B player that is a pitcher can possibly easily field that, a 65 and over player or a 12 and under player probably cannot. So experience is also an important part of that judgement. You also said that the pitcher let it drop which implies intention. While that relates to a different ruling, again this is in an umpire's judgement call as well. Now as umpires do we learn with experience and possibly misjudge a play at times? Of course we do. With what you have detailed but not seeing the play, I agree with the umpire. Judgement is something that cannot be appealed, protested, or any other words that might come up with. Honestly infield fly is one of the most commonly misunderstood rules that exist. I had to wait 2 minutes to call time once in a coed game because the defense couldn't figure it out and kept throwing the ball and stomping bags. The runner just kept walking between 2nd and 3rd. They never tagged him, and he had tagged up for the catch. Finally he decides to just stand on 2nd base. I call Time and then had to answer lots of questions from the defense because they didn't know why. That was the worst one that I ever had. I can't call Time with an offensive player just walking around between bags. I do tell new umpires that coed is the best place to learn about infield fly because it is usually where it gets totally complicated. So your question is good but definitely a misunderstood rule; so you are fine with asking and hopefully learning more about it. The rule was designed to protect the offense, but they are usually the ones that get the most upset at the valid call because their batter is out.