Play on or dead ball

[chapmaja]

I had this situation Wednesday (NFHS JV). Team is up about 15 in the second inning. Bases loaded, 1 out. Batter hits a hard ground ball that goes directly between F3 and F4 (Equal distance to each). F3 is playing in front of the baseline, while F4 is behind the baseline. The ball was hit so hard that neither defense player would have an opportunity to make a play. The ball however hit the runner as she tried to advance from 1b to 2b.

We both went up with a dead ball interference call, but I am not questioning it.

I understand the rule is the ball is dead if it hits a runner and has not yet passed a defensive player, or has passed a defensive player and another had an opportunity to make an out.

The question really is how to we determine the passed a player portion. In this case the ball split the difference between the two equally. I would guess that this rule really requires judgment regarding who the closest player is to where the ball goes. Am I correct?

The call of out was never question by anyone except myself.

This game was so bad, the home team only had 8 players during warmups. The 9th player arrived shortly before the start. She was a freshman up on the varsity team (which was away that day), who was pulled out of warmups and driven back to the host school to make it a legal lineup to start.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

I had this situation Wednesday (NFHS JV). Team is up about 15 in the second inning. Bases loaded, 1 out. Batter hits a hard ground ball that goes directly between F3 and F4 (Equal distance to each). F3 is playing in front of the baseline, while F4 is behind the baseline. The ball was hit so hard that neither defense player would have an opportunity to make a play. The ball however hit the runner as she tried to advance from 1b to 2b.

We both went up with a dead ball interference call, but I am not questioning it.

I understand the rule is the ball is dead if it hits a runner and has not yet passed a defensive player, or has passed a defensive player and another had an opportunity to make an out.

The question really is how to we determine the passed a player portion. In this case the ball split the difference between the two equally. I would guess that this rule really requires judgment regarding who the closest player is to where the ball goes. Am I correct?

The call of out was never question by anyone except myself.

This game was so bad, the home team only had 8 players during warmups. The 9th player arrived shortly before the start. She was a freshman up on the varsity team (which was away that day), who was pulled out of warmups and driven back to the host school to make it a legal lineup to start.

DEAD!! RUNNER OUT!! BATTER ON FIRST!! EVERYBODY GO BACK!

MTD, Sr.

[BretMan]

I'm not surprised that nobody complained. After all, everybody "knows" that anytime a runner gets hit by the ball, the runner is out...right? Well, we umpires know that's not right. I've had some real blowups when the ball did pass a fielder, then hit a runner, and I didn't call her out. Because, everybody knows...

Doesn't FED consider "past the fielder(s)" by drawing a straight line between the two adjacent fielders? On this play you'd draw a line from F3 to F4. If the ball was behind that line, then it was past the fielder(s).

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by BretMan

I'm not surprised that nobody complained. After all, everybody "knows" that anytime a runner gets hit by the ball, the runner is out...right? Well, we umpires know that's not right. I've had some real blowups when the ball did pass a fielder, then hit a runner, and I didn't call her out. Because, everybody knows...

Doesn't FED consider "past the fielder(s)" by drawing a straight line between the two adjacent fielders? On this play you'd draw a line from F3 to F4. If the ball was behind that line, then it was past the fielder(s).

"Doesn't FED consider "past the fielder(s)" by drawing a straight line between the two adjacent fielders?"

This is what I am really wondering. I have never gotten a good explanation of this. Drawing a line would make sense on a play like this. Based on where those two defenders were located, I would say it could have gone either way.

The way the same was going, I am calling the out because we might not get another for awhile.

[Andy]

First of all, let me say that I am absolutely sympathetic to your need to get outs in a game like the one you describe.....

That being said, I read your description of the play as a live ball, play on. From your description, the batted ball passed F3 and F4 (and I'm assuming F9) had no opportunity to make a play.

I've only hear the straight line between two fielders theory used in reference to base umpire positioning and when the BU is considered "behind" the infielders.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Andy

First of all, let me say that I am absolutely sympathetic to your need to get outs in a game like the one you describe.....

That being said, I read your description of the play as a live ball, play on. From your description, the batted ball passed F3 and F4 (and I'm assuming F9) had no opportunity to make a play.

I've only hear the straight line between two fielders theory used in reference to base umpire positioning and when the BU is considered "behind" the infielders.

This doesn't matter.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Andy

I've only hear the straight line between two fielders theory used in reference to base umpire positioning and when the BU is considered "behind" the infielders.

This^^^^^^

The rule is that the runner is not out if the batted ball passes a fielder and another fielder does not have an opportunity to make an out. IMO, that would be a fielder in the general vicinity with a possible chance field the batted ball.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Doesn't FED consider "past the fielder(s)" by drawing a straight line between the two adjacent fielders? On this play you'd draw a line from F3 to F4. If the ball was behind that line, then it was past the fielder(s).

Baseball yes. This seems to be about softball. Might be different.

[illinoisbluezeb]

In the OP and since this is softball you have to have F3, F4, F9 all in the judgment equations.

That being said I've had four 9-3 plays at the varsity baseball level this year and zero in softball.