Quote:
Originally Posted by KJUmp
Irish,
Both scenarios make sense.
Curious....how did the three of you rule in that 14U game where this play occurred....the best case scenario or the worst case scenario?
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The umpires on the field just killed the ball, and "sold" the runners would have had the base made, so they allowed them to stay.
This type of ruling occurs too often as umpires try to be "fair" and use that to justify a ruling without regards to the actual rule.
Did the catcher have a play? Can't tell since the ball was hit with the bat as she reached for it. That act there kills ANYTHING and if the runners did not have the base by that point (they did not), the minimum is going back to the previous base.
Umpires need to remember there are two teams on the field and they deserve equal treatment. The offense is the team that caused the problem, so I cannot see "rewarding" them with a free base.