[chapmaja]

I was talking with someone the other day about ejections and how I was lucky to not have to deal with that (I may also have posted it on here as well).

Second game of a DH today (BU), I call obstruction on the F5 on a steal of third. Coach doesn't like the call and lets me know from the dugout. She says her piece and then stops. Parent next to the dugout decides to try to keep the conversation going, at least from her end. She had already been warned about her conduct from the bleachers in the first game. After she said a couple magic words including telling me to shut up (I wasn't talking to her at the time), she was informed it was time to leave.

The best part was the fact the SS, her DD, had a parting comment to dearest mom "Mom, you're pathetic." I actually feel sorry for the daughter because having a parent get tossed from a game has to be embarrassing for her.

Now, as for the two plays of interest (pretty boring today) from this game (NFHS rules)

First, the obstruction call that lead to the parent being asked to leave.

R1 on 2nd, ball gets by F2. F2 catches the rebound off the backstop and throws to F5. F5 is standing with her feet straddling 3rd base. The throw is to the inside of diamond and she has to lean into the field of play to try catching the throw. At the time the throw arrives, the runner also arrives (not sliding). The position of F5 forced the runner to pull up to avoid "plowing" her over. I called obstruction because IMO she had to pull up because F5 was leaning into the direct line to the base. The throw got away but was backed up by F6. I had called obstruction and awarded the base the runner had safely arrived at. This was the play the coach complained about (yet she didn't complain about a similar play at the plate in which her pitcher was called for obstruction when a runner was scoring on a passed ball.

The second play in question was the next half inning. Ball 4. BR runs to first as the ball is returned to the pitcher in the circle. BR rounds first and stops about 5 feet towards second base, then immediately returns to first. DC wants a LBR violation. As I read 8-7-4a, this is legal. She only had one stop and then immediately returned to first base. She had not stopped at first, then left. Am I correct this is not a LBR violation?