Unique Play

[Marty Rogers]

This one came up tonight at my asso. meeting.
Actual play in HS game:
R2, R3, one out. Batter hits a very high fly
straight up between home plate and pitcher's
mound. It lands fair, and spins, rolling back
toward home plate. It keeps rolling, coach yells
to let it go (appears it may go foul). It is
slowing down just as it reaches the plate. R3
comes sliding into home plate, slides into the
ball, and it goes rolling several feet away.

I don't know if the ball was actually on the
plate, or just in front of it. I don't know
if this even matters. What do you think the call
is? I thought the runner is out for being in
contact with a batted ball, but don't know if
this is correct. Any ideas?

[bluezebra]

Technically, the ball hasn't passed an infielder. Off the top of my head, I have an out for interference with a fair batted ball.

bob

[brandda]

My question would be: Did anyone run around the ball while they were watching it go fall and/or did the catcher come out from behind the plate?

As long as the ball is fair when he gets hit and no one on the defensive side ran around it at any point while they were hoping it went foul this is a hit base runner and he is out for interference.

On the other hand, if during the course of the play, if someone ran around the ball while it was rolling (passed infielder) then it is a live ball and no call. If the catcher came out from behind the plate at any point during the play say to try to make a play on the ball, I would consider him an infielder and then again would consider it a live ball and no call.

[Marty Rogers]

I did not see the play, so I do not know what
the fielders did. However, I agree with your
ruling in the two possible cases:
1) the ball did not pass a fielder
2) the ball did pass a fielder

I think if F2 came out, and the ball
dropped in front of him (between F2 and
F1), and then rolled back to the plate,
the ball wouldn't qualify as having
passed a fielder, would it?

[brandda]

Originally posted by Marty Rogers
I think if F2 came out, and the ball
dropped in front of him (between F2 and
F1), and then rolled back to the plate,
the ball wouldn't qualify as having
passed a fielder, would it?

The pitcher is considered an infielder if he leaves the mound and/or tries to make a play on the ball. I think the same rule would apply to the catcher if he comes out from behind home plate.

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by Marty Rogers
I did not see the play, so I do not know what
the fielders did. However, I agree with your
ruling in the two possible cases:
1) the ball did not pass a fielder
2) the ball did pass a fielder

I think if F2 came out, and the ball
dropped in front of him (between F2 and
F1), and then rolled back to the plate,
the ball wouldn't qualify as having
passed a fielder, would it?

Right. Apply NABL 4.5, play 6.

[soonerfan]

Originally posted by Marty Rogers
This one came up tonight at my asso. meeting.
Actual play in HS game:
R2, R3, one out. Batter hits a very high fly
straight up between home plate and pitcher's
mound. It lands fair, and spins, rolling back
toward home plate. It keeps rolling, coach yells
to let it go (appears it may go foul). It is
slowing down just as it reaches the plate. R3
comes sliding into home plate, slides into the
ball, and it goes rolling several feet away.

I don't know if the ball was actually on the
plate, or just in front of it. I don't know
if this even matters. What do you think the call
is? I thought the runner is out for being in
contact with a batted ball, but don't know if
this is correct. Any ideas?

TIME! Interference. Runner...out. My ruling is judged on the pure fact that if we notice in rule books, most rules are fairly broad...and I have a broad interpretation. I picture a ball that has not, and will not, pass anyone. So that is some admirable hustle on the runner's part. That is how I read the situation. John

[Rich Ives]

Soonerfan - read NAPBL 4.5 Play 6 - if the fielders had the opportumity to field the ball and chose not to, the runner is not out.