runner caught in run-down, dropped third strike

[soonerfan]

#1. runner is out. that is a crude way to get it, but in a rundown the fielder, ideally, would like to have an angle to throw from. Had the ball hit the runner in less painful place he may have had the chance to get back or even advance. Just bad luck on the runner's part for more than one reason.

#2. you just dealt with inexperience. There are ver few, here anyway, younger kids that have the first clue about being verbal at games. Mostly because they are shy about yelling the wrong thing. When they are kids and are unsure it is morbidly embarassing to look foolish and not know how to speak to people confidently to explain yourself. It is a lot easier, although not correct, to just say "they should know better." maybe they should, but even the "big boys" forget at times.

#3. The best description is this. ANYTIME there is a potential force out at third on a ball hit on the ground WITH LESS THAN 2 T-W-O OUTS...AND...the pop fly can be caught by an INFIELDER WHILE IN FAIR TERRITORY...HE/SHE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ON THE INFIELD ONLY, THEY CAN BE IN THE OUTFIELD......WITH ORDINARY EFFORT. that is an infield fly situation. if the fielder is in foul territory and drops the ball, it's a foul ball. NOW..."ordinary effort" is the squirrely part. that is a judgement call by the official. It is up to them to deem if effort was ordinary or not. Me, if you are in a dead sprint to catch a ball, that is not ordinary. PLUS, to make matters worse, the trajectory of the ball is an issue as well. We see those soft line drives that do not go high at all but are not hit hard, low trajectory and right at a fielder. To me, just a soft liner right at a fielder, no real "settleing" there, just in the best position. Had it been a soft liner in the hole could an infilder have made the same settling catch? I could go on and on and on and on about posibilities, so that is as general as it gets. ENJOY!