Thread: Running Lane
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Old Wed Mar 23, 2005, 03:59pm
David Emerling David Emerling is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Germantown, TN (east of Memphis)
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Quote:
Originally posted by jicecone
Quote:
Originally posted by englanj5
Is there a rule that says a runner is out if he avoids a tag at first by running inside the foul line and not staying in the running lane? I watched a high school game yesterday where the home plate umpire ruled the runner was out because he ran around a tag at first in fair territory. Thanks for any insite to this play.
High School Rule 8-4-2.a "Any runner is out when he: a. runs more than three feet away from a direct line between bases to avoid being tagged....while the runner is advancing or returning to a base". pg 54
The purpose of the running lane is to restrict the batter-runner in such a way so that he does not interfere with the fielder receiving the throw at 1st.

The running lane is 3-feet wide. It is possible that a runner could be on the extreme left-hand side of the running lane when he begins an evasive maneuver to avoid a tag. That would allow him to deviate 3-feet either side of his current location, which could take him about 3-feet into fair territory, out of the running lane.

Would a runner who did this be out for leaving the baseline? I would say not.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN
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