[SC Ump]

... it's a question about the trailing runner.

NFHS: R1 on 1B, 2 outs, F5 fields ball and throws to F3. The ball is overthrown and F9 is not backing up. I believe R1 will make it home easily, but collides with F6 and falls down. I (PU) immediately call and signal obstruction. The BU was following BR and the play on the overthrow.

As R1 gets up and gets to 3B easily, the coach says, "just stay here, you'll be awarded home." As much as I'm tempted to NOT award at this point... (is there a penalty for not trying?) I do award home at the end of the playing action.

After that, I'm thinking what about the BR now at 2B? No one asked or questioned that runner and she stayed at 2B.

I do not know what happened with BR as she rounded first... Did she run to right field and then go to 2B? Did she round and immediately go? Did she hesitate because of obstruction on R1 by F6?

I started realizing, I often don't considered trailing runners when noting obstruction. If the BR hesitated when R1 and F6 collided and thus did not make it to 3B because of that collision, I'm thinking that the incident thus obstructed BR, too, and the proper award would be for BR to be at 3B, even though she "chose" to not advance because of the obstruction, i.e. she was not physically obstructed.

Thoughts?