Talking with a 2nd year umpire on the way back from a JV softball game tonight and got into detached player equipment and penalties. He posed the following question.
Fed rules. Batted ball spinning in foul territory. F2 throws her helmet and hits ball.
(1) If you judge that the ball could have become fair what is the rulling.
(2) If you judge that the ball had no chance to become fair what is the rulling.
I preposed that it is a point not covered in the Fed book which imposes penalties for the defense touching a fair batted ball with detached equipment, and imposes penalties on a batter or batter-runner who inteferes with a batted ball which could become fair.
In case 1 I advised him that we should declare the ball dead. If it was close enough to the line to sell as a fair ball, then impose the 3 base award. If not, then use
10-2-3g and award 3 bases.
In case 2 I advised to just declare the ball foul and warn F2 not to do that again. If she did it again, then have her removed from the game per 3-3-1o or r.
Your opinions are welcomed. Also, any cites from other rule codes or cases that might apply.
Roger Greene
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