Quote:
Originally Posted by youngump
Does it make a difference in practice? In the case of the third out and F3 trips over the chalk on the circle line and lets the ball roll out of her glove on to the pitchers plate on her way down, are you really ruling safe?
What's the play where on the field you'd rule differently based on the difference in those rules? The one in the OP?
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Fair question.
In both your and the prior "example" (outfielder drops ball in the infield) case plays, I could see ruling the release, WELL AFTER the possession was voluntary and intentional. But in the OP, sorry, as described, I believe see that as a loss of possession before a voluntary release.
I am reminded of a baseball game I watched in mid-80's, when Atlanta Braves were "America's Team", according to TBS Superstation broadcasts. Left fielder Albert Hall "caught" a ball probably 20 feet or more in fair territory on a dead run headed to the foul line, couldn't stop, and dropped the ball after flipping over the short wall. Ruling: ground rule (we know it is a book rule two base award, not a ground rule) double; not a voluntary release. There is no such rule in softball (or, to my knowledge, in baseball) that defines "long enough" as possession.