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Had this play- and no one was happy..including me
iNeed some help on this one--
The right handed batter swings at a pitch and the ball only hits the bottom of the ball-- for some strange reason the ball is spinning wildly and goes about ten feet high and then falls down right in front of the plate still spinning but moving so slowly toward third base. All of us (batter, catcher and umpire) are stunned thinking it was rolling foul in what feels like 5 seconds. However the ball remains in fair territory spinning like a top. -- The ball is appox three feet to the right of the plate just in front of the batter's box. As coaching are yelling for the runner to head toward first, there is a collision between the batter and the catcher basically still in the batter's box. This forces the runner out into the playing field about five or six feet as the batter runner and catcher are both trying to make a play or advance to first base. (nothing flagrant or intentional just a 'I'm going this way' thing) --
Now the batter-runner has been forced inside toward the field of play, the catcher, after a muff, picks up the ball and throws to first hitting the batter-runner on the shoulder. The batter-runner was trying to get to the running lane but was still in fair territory due to the collision at the plate.
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I called the batter-runner out for not being in the running lane.
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Needless to say- one coach was not happy and wanted obstruction due to the batter-runner could not get to the running lane because of the collision and the direction it pushed her player. The other coach didn't really complain but felt it should have been interference since the catcher could not get to the ball.
If was one of those plays you would just have to see in Jr Varsity softball. The two collided in the batter's box but seemed to do a little dance about five feet into the playing field. I could see the reason the coach was wanting obstruction.
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Can someone help with the batted ball falling right in front of the plate and the obstruction/interference rule. Not just this play but others
thanks
Last edited by kfo9494; Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 01:49pm.
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