Batter runner out at first
 

Where in the NFHS rulebook does it specifically say that the batter/runner is out when the base is tagged before the batter/runner reaches the base?

I've looked in rule 8-4-1 and found nothing. The next section covers the runner.

A friend of mine called me today. He saw a ground ball hit fair to the first baseman take a bad hop. The ball went into foul territory, where the fielder recovered the ball. He had the ball in his glove and tagged the base with his bare hand. The umpires called the batter/runner safe because the fielder didn't touch the bag with the ball.

Rita

PS. I don't do high school ball and have an old book.

Last I checked when the first baseman's foot is on 1B on a "routine" play, the ball is not in his shoe.

Umpires kicked the $hit out of that call. Embarrassing.

ô!ô
 

Actually Rita Federation has gone so far as to make two official rulings:

1) If a players shoestring touches the base during a force out or a play at first that is deemed the same as touching the base with any body part and,

2) If the hair of any player touches the base during a force out or a play at first this is deemed the same as touching the base with any body part.

The umpires ruled incorrectly if every thing was as you posted.

T

8-4-1f "...or if any fielder, while holding the ball in his grasp, touches first base ... before the batter-runner touches first base"

Thats called being out by a hair.:p

Yeah, they kicked the crap out of this play.

Coach - "He had the ball in his glove and touched the base with his bare hand! How can you call my runner out?"

Me - "The same way I call your runner out when he has the ball in his glove and touches the base with his foot!"

Rita, I am wondering where such play occurred?? It's pretty fundamental, it seems to me.

Well, doh. If I had kept reading beyond the first few words....!

Thanks. I knew I was overlooking it somehow!

Rita

If you want to win a bet with your friends, ask them to show you the OBR rule which says a fielder can tag the base with the ball for an out on a force or on the batter/runner at 1st base.

My friend lives in Arizona now. This was a varsity high school tournament a couple of nights ago.

My friend asked me if I had a rules quote. I sure must have been blind last night!

Rita

Yep

Thanks Rita, just glad it wasn't one of the NW folks.