NFHS R8-S4-A1g(1): Running Lane Interference

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by ilyazhito

No. The runner's lane only applies on plays from the vicinity of home plate with throws to 1st base. The purpose of the lane is to ensure that the catcher (or other fielder around home plate) has the opportunity to make an unimpeded throw to 1st base. Fielders in other locations are less likely to be impeded in making a throw to 1st base, which means that the lane will not apply to them in the same way.

Because the lane only applies on throws from home to 1st, not the other way around, the walk-off fielder's choice in the Texas softball game, where the batter was hit in the head with a throw from F3, was completely legal.

1) Whether it is Baseball or Softball, the RLI Rule is to prevent the B/R from being charged with Unintentional Interference.

2) The NFHS Softball RLI Rule is not germane to this discussion.

3) And more importantly, where in NFHS Baseball Rule R8-S4-A1g(1) does it state that the Throw must come from the HP Area and behind the B/R?

MTD, Sr.