quote:
Originally posted by bballnj:
Our middle school team had a baseball game yesterday. I wasn't at the game but I understand that there was a play at the plate. The runner moved towards the catcher who had clearly received the ball and was waiting for the runner. The runner hesitated and then plowed into the catcher. The umpire called the runner out not on the basis of the tag but because the runner did not slide into home. The runner was clearly out as the catcher made a good tag. The runner (not my son) was ejected from the game for not sliding. I was just wondering is there a rule that prohibits running over the catcher in middle school baseball or little league? Is this a league thing or is it a common practice in the US at this age level?
I believe most middle schools play under Fed rules. Under Fed, the action you describe ("plowed into the catcher") is malicious contact. The penalty is: the runner is out, the runner is ejected, other runners return to the base last reached at the time of the malicious contact.
It may have been interpreted as "not sliding", but there is no "must slide" rule in Fed ball. The rule (paraphrased) is "get down, go around or give up."
Wed May 17, 2000, 08:29am
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