FED: Catch or Homerun?

[njdevs00cup]

Interesting situation in a state sectional final game relayed by a fellow umpire. Batter hits a ball to deep center field, F8 leaps backwards (feet in play when he leaps), ball in the glove, falls backwards through the fence (snow fence) and holds the ball up beyond the fence to show he maintained possession. The ruling was a catch.

From what I was told, the offensive manager argued two points: Since the fielder's feet landed beyond the fence it should have been a homerun and the second point which was argued was that a player cannot move or make contact with a snow fence to make a catch.

Was this the correct call?

[newera21]

Seems pretty simple to me-- yes, it's a catch.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by njdevs00cup

Interesting situation in a state sectional final game relayed by a fellow umpire. Batter hits a ball to deep center field, F8 leaps backwards (feet in play when he leaps), ball in the glove, falls backwards through the fence (snow fence) and holds the ball up beyond the fence to show he maintained possession. The ruling was a catch.

From what I was told, the offensive manager argued two points: Since the fielder's feet landed beyond the fence it should have been a homerun and the second point which was argued was that a player cannot move or make contact with a snow fence to make a catch.

Was this the correct call?

Unless he extended the field by stepping on the snow fence (sounds like he didn't), it's a catch and carry. Batter is out, runners (if any) move up one.

[DG]

Originally Posted by njdevs00cup

Interesting situation in a state sectional final game relayed by a fellow umpire. Batter hits a ball to deep center field, F8 leaps backwards (feet in play when he leaps), ball in the glove, falls backwards through the fence (snow fence) and holds the ball up beyond the fence to show he maintained possession. The ruling was a catch.

From what I was told, the offensive manager argued two points: Since the fielder's feet landed beyond the fence it should have been a homerun and the second point which was argued was that a player cannot move or make contact with a snow fence to make a catch.

Was this the correct call?

What's a snow fence? On a regular fence, if fielder jumps up from the field of play, catches the ball, lands on the other side, and still has the ball and can demonstrate voluntary release, that would be a catch.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Does that also apply to a tumbleweed fence? Because I had a ...

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Does that also apply to a tumbleweed fence? Because I had a ...

Probably not too many snow fences in So Cal huh?

[Welpe]

Snow Fence:



Johnny, you'd be surprised. There are mountains in Southern California with snow and plenty of skiing and snowboarding.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Snow Fence:



Johnny, you'd be surprised. There are mountains in Southern California with snow and plenty of skiing and snowboarding.

I'll take your word for it. Only been to Pac Beach. I stand corrected!

[w_sohl]

Couple things.

First, there is still snow on the moutains in California. At least in the Central VAlley where I am at.

Second, you would be surprised how sturdy those fences are for keeping snow back. When installed properly.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by w_sohl

Couple things.

First, there is still snow on the moutains in California. At least in the Central VAlley where I am at.

Second, you would be surprised how sturdy those fences are for keeping snow back. When installed properly.

I've seen that snow. Flimsy plastic probably holds it back.

Try one of our winters with the snow storms coming in off Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Those plastic fences don't hold up. They really don't.

However, they are more forgiving and safer in a collision, which is why they are used more frequently and replaced more frequently, in ski areas.

[njdevs00cup]

Had a good laugh regarding where the thread digressed or progressed to. At any rate temporary fences or snow fences (plastic or netting-like) are actually quite common in Northwest NJ. They often make it very difficult to determine whether the ball carried over in the air or on a bounce.

In an earlier post it was noted the that F8 did not extend the field by pushing on the snow fence to make the catch.