Power lines over the field in live ball territory

[David B]

Originally Posted by metroump9

Power lines are over the field starting out over foul territory running over to fair territory then they are out of play. Can a batted ball be caught for an out after striking the power lines? Similar situation in that you have tree limbs hanging over the outfield fence can a batted ball be caught for an out after striking the tree limbs?

Couple of fields in our area have similar situations; however, these are addressed before the game.

In none of these is an out possible one it hits either the lines or the trees. One field says if it is caught its a double, the other says once it hits the line play on.

Thanks
David

[scarolinablue]

One of our high schools has this situation. The ground rules have always been as such:

For the wire overhead behind home plate, if it hits it, it's an immediate dead ball, and foul.

For the wires in both right and left field that cross from foul to fair moving away from the plate, it's always described as this: "Umpire will call fair or foul based on the striking point of the ball. The ball can be caught for an out, otherwise it's a live ball unless foul."

It is played this way whether in HS Fed ball, or American Legion games.

[TwoBits]

Originally Posted by scarolinablue

One of our high schools has this situation. The ground rules have always been as such:

For the wire overhead behind home plate, if it hits it, it's an immediate dead ball, and foul.

For the wires in both right and left field that cross from foul to fair moving away from the plate, it's always described as this: "Umpire will call fair or foul based on the striking point of the ball. The ball can be caught for an out, otherwise it's a live ball unless foul."

It is played this way whether in HS Fed ball, or American Legion games.

Several fields in my are have the same situation as SCblue described. The ground rules used is the power line overhead at the plate is automatically dead and ruled foul. The lines in left and right field are live and in play. If the ball lands or is first touched by the defense in fair territory, it is fair, and if the ball lands or is first touched by the defense in foul territory, it is foul.