Stray Ball Enter Field of Play
 

Strange situation which I think has no obvious answer.

Have a couple of diamonds that are back-to-back and every once in while a foul ball ends up going into the other field.

I think it is obvious that if there isn't a play going on at the time that you immediately call time and get the "stray" ball off the field.

The question comes in where the foul ball is noticed while an active play is happening, either a play on a runner, hit ball or even a pitch is in the air.

How would you deal with the situation? Let the play continue as long as the stray ball doesn't have a direct impact on the play? Kill the play immediately and place runners as if it was spectator interference? On a pitched ball, immediately call "no pitch" and kill the play?

If the ball affects play, treat it as a form of spectator interference. The ball is dead, and call outs or award bases according to your best judgment of what would have happened.

If the ball does not affect play, ignore it until the end of playing action.

There's always an answer: 9.01c. :D

I'd be inclined to keep the play alive no matter what happens, just as if a stray bird or other animal enters the field (exception: pitch hits bird/stray ball).

Hard to play on with this one, especially with no runners. ;)

+10

I believe I would, as Bob suggests, simply play on in all but the most extreme cases. If some fielder decides to chase that ball to throw it back out of play, DMF. I think the only thing that could happen to cause me to kill the play would be if the extra ball became involved in the play - as in, someone grabbed it and threw it to a base.

use your best judgement. I had a stray ball come in while the pitch was on its way, batter hits a home run over the fence, defensive coach wants me to rule "no pitch". Gave him an "are you crazy" look, and he turned around and went back to the dugout. He knew he wasn't winning that argument.

Sometimes, you just have to umpire.

Outside the Baseball world it means "Common Sense" prevails.