Ohio High School State Title Game - OBS Call

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by josephrt1

From my perspective, I agree they followed the correct process and discussed the obstruction relative to the tag at home plate. But I think there is enough evidence to support those who say she should have been put back at 3rd and not awarded home.

Definitely we can not see what happened at 3rd. But even if she was knocked to the ground, based on what i did see, i would not give her home. The reason is that the catcher was standing not very far from home plate with possession of the ball. Had that runner tried to advance home, i judge that the catcher would have beat her to the plate and tagged her out. Thus I would have put her back on third anyway, no matter what reason the obstruction was called.

She was also standing flat footed 1/3 of the way down the line and did not run home until the defender dropped the throw. But that is less important because we can't see the obstruction event or know why she was stopped 1/3 down the line. But what helped my decision is the position of the catcher. I dont think she's making it safely to the plate. And of course this is all hindsight with the help of video replay.

IMJ, and unless there is a local "must award one base beyond" rule, the OBS runner was not OBS going home unless she had to alter her route around the player standing near the line.

Then again, was 3rd base occupied by the BR/R at the time of the out at the plate?

[BretMan]

The plate umpire on this one is my USA assigner. I'll probably get a first hand account when I see him this weekend.

From what I've heard so far, the obstruction was when the runner was first rounding third base and the fielder was standing over in foul territory. None of that is captured in this video.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

IMJ, and unless there is a local "must award one base beyond" rule, the OBS runner was not OBS going home unless she had to alter her route around the player standing near the line.

Then again, was 3rd base occupied by the BR/R at the time of the out at the plate?

If the BR/R was at third base, she would just go back to second base once the obstructed runner is returned to third. You wouldn't award her home if she wouldn't have reached home minus the obstruction just because third is occupied.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Manny A

If the BR/R was at third base, she would just go back to second base once the obstructed runner is returned to third. You wouldn't award her home if she wouldn't have reached home minus the obstruction just because third is occupied.

Okay, but why not? You push a non-affected runner ahead if the umpire judges an OBS runner was due the base already occupied?

[RKBUmp]

Just found another video of the play from the 3rd base side showing the full obstruction. Runner was knocked completely to the ground, but tje catcher and ball not in view in this video so have no idea exactly where they were in relation to the runner when she was sprawled out on the ground.

OHSAA 2017 State Championship Ending Play - JwPhotography and Cinevations

[teebob21]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

Just found another video of the play from the 3rd base side showing the full obstruction. Runner was knocked completely to the ground, but tje catcher and ball not in view in this video so have no idea exactly where they were in relation to the runner when she was sprawled out on the ground.

OHSAA 2017 State Championship Ending Play - JwPhotography and Cinevations

Good find. If I was a video wizard, I'd stitch the videos together for a splitscreen view. I have no comment beyond that, other than the parents screaming "Interference! Interference!" (sigh)

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

Just found another video of the play from the 3rd base side showing the full obstruction. Runner was knocked completely to the ground, but tje catcher and ball not in view in this video so have no idea exactly where they were in relation to the runner when she was sprawled out on the ground.

OHSAA 2017 State Championship Ending Play - JwPhotography and Cinevations

Obviously OBS, and an excellent job by the crew in that situation to make absolutely sure everyone had the same call, even though 3B had it all the way. Tough way to lose a championship. however...

[RKBUmp]

I dont have the ability to do it, but would be interesting to see the 2 videos side by side and synced up so you can see exactly where the catcher was with the ball at what point the runner got knocked down.

[youngump]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

I dont have the ability to do it, but would be interesting to see the 2 videos side by side and synced up so you can see exactly where the catcher was with the ball at what point the runner got knocked down.

It's hard to do exactly, but by putting both videos in side by side browsers you can sync it up reasonably. At 8 seconds in the youtube video and 10 seconds in the photographers video, you can sync up the tags perfectly. If you then start both as quickly as possible you'll get a pretty good sense. When the runner knocks herself down on the obstructing 3B, the catcher already has the ball and is running toward the plate. From that approximation, it seems the runner should have been put back at 3rd.

(I've tried it a couple of other ways and I think the contact occurred slightly after the catcher got the ball from all of them.)

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

I dont have the ability to do it, but would be interesting to see the 2 videos side by side and synced up so you can see exactly where the catcher was with the ball at what point the runner got knocked down.

https://vid.me/kuYZ