[Striker991]

Lenny...
How can you call a foul ball in fair territory? You have a few choices on overhanging obstacles in fair territory, but foul is not one of them. For natural obstacles, like trees, it is either live ball with no effect (possible catch), or live ball no catch possible (like a grounder). Why would you punish the offense on a well-hit ball? As I mentioned before, we always cover this in our pre-game, but it is always live ball, play on, catch is possible. The trees are only down the first base line, and the branches are quite high. I have only seen them hit one time, in foul territory.

"And out of sarcarsm what if batted ball hits wood light pole what do you do then?"

The wood light pole is:

1. Usually out of play and always at least foul. Dead ball, foul or out of play.

2. Foreign to the natural ground. Once it is hit, ball is dead.

Natural doesn't refer to what it is made of, but rather how it relates to the environment of the field.

Precedent: Seattle's old Kingdome. If a ball hit a speaker or other structure over fair territory, live ball, fair, play on (catch possible).

Try and keep up... :-)

Also, no matter what Dakota says, a tree is very much part of the natural ground.

So based on the rule as written, and the precedent set by MLB at the Kingdome, it is my opinion that overhanging branches over live ball territory are live and playable as if nothing happened. I would also agree with the decision that if you decided so at the plate meeting, branches in foul territory may still be called foul when touched by the ball. In the absence of the plate meeting, though, you have to go with the rule as it is written.

Once again, however, COVER IT IN THE GROUND RULE DISCUSSION at the plate meeting.