kicked ball to DBT
Recent discussion on this ASA Rules & Clarification scenario:
Play 2: With no outs and R1 on 2B, B2 hits a line drive to F7. R1 is off on the hit and headed toward 3B when F7 misses the sinking line drive and knocks the ball forward on the ground in front of him. While running in and trying to scoop up the ball, F7 kicks the ball into the 3B dugout. When the ball entered the 3B dugout, R1 is two steps from 3B and B2 is not yet to 1B. Which bases should R1 and B2 be awarded? RULING: R1 is awarded home and B2 is awarded 2B. The ball being kicked into dead ball territory would be treated the same as if F7 threw the ball into dead ball territory. Each runner would be awarded two bases from the time the ball left F7’s foot. (Rule 8, Section 5G) The above is from 2009. Our specific point of discussion was that USSSA would only allow an award of 1 base versus 2 bases. With some opinion about a ball that was in the control of the fielder being thrown out of bounds instead of a ball not in control being kicked out of bounds. I don't do USSSA, so can't debate the point. Any U-trip umps in here? |
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i asked a USSSA UIC and he said "No different in USSSA and NFHS " |
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Accidentally kicking the ball out of play and throwing the ball (player has control) out of play should be ruled differently. USA obviously doesn’t get it among may [sic] other things. |
I found USSSA rules on line. These are the only 1 base awards listed.
D. One base: 1. If a pitch by the pitcher from the pitching position on the pitcher’s plate goes into a dead-ball area, becomes blocked (unless blocked by the offensive team), or lodges in an Umpire’s equipment. 2. If a fielder loses possession of the ball on a tag play and the ball enters dead-ball area. 3. If forced from the base occupied by a following runner who must advance because a batter receives a fourth ball, is hit by a pitched ball or hits a fair ball which becomes dead. 4. If a runner is attempting to steal or the runner is forced from the base occupied by a batter-runner or runner who must advance because the catcher or any fielder obstructed a batter (such as stepping on or across home plate, pushing the batter to reach the pitch, or touching the bat). Instances may occur when the infraction may be ignored or when the batter may be awarded first base. 5. If the fielder unintentionally carries a live ball into dead-ball territory. Maybe our guy remembers #2 above and got it confused. I don't know. |
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FWIW, I believe NCAA would consider this a batted ball deflected into DBT, which is a two-base award at the time of the pitch. There is an NCAA case play that involves a loose pitch which the catcher subsequently kicks into DBT. The ruling is that the ball's status when kicked was that it was still a pitched ball since the catcher never controlled it to throw it, so the award is one base from the pitch. So on this play, the kicked ball would still be considered a batted ball that goes into DBT since it was never controlled by the fielder. |
So why do you think any other rules sets are different? The cited one base award rule, and specifically the highlighted rule, also only reflect a ball that has been controlled/possessed, and subsequently lost without intent.
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I don't see anything that indicates this is a one base award in the USSSA rulebook.
What I do find interesting is when does the ball change from a deflected ball to a basically being considered a thrown ball that goes out of play? |
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My point on the ball going to DBT when a fielder loses control on a tag play is that I think that may be the point of confusion. |
I still feel this should be treated as a deflected batted ball that goes into DBT. The fielder never possessed it, it was still considered a batted ball since he/she never had it in his/her possession, and he/she unintentionally deflected it.
Unless there's a specific case play saying that when a defensive player provides additional impetus to a ball that causes it to go into DBT where it otherwise would not have, treat it as a "thrown" ball, then we can't just make up that ruling. This is the NCAA case play I mentioned above. Quote:
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8-14-d-3 If forced from the base occupied by a following runner who must advance because a batter receives a fourth ball, is hit by a pitched ball or hits a fair ball which becomes dead. Looking farther, it appears as this would be a 1 base award from the pitch, as 8-15-A-1 states the award shall be from the time of the pitch: "If any pitch (batted or unbatted) is followed by a dead ball before the pitcher is in the 16-foot circle for the next pitch and before there is any throw by the fielding team." Kicking the ball out of play is not a throw by the defensive team. |
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(I'm not saying this is the way it should be ruled, just saying the way the rules are written this does appear to be the most applicable rule when nothing is specific in the rules about the situation. As stated above, this should be considered a deflected batted ball going out of play, a thrown ball going out of play which should be a two base award, not a 1 base award). The complicating factors are that the ball was never possessed or thrown by the defense. This is something not covered in the USSSA rules, but is covered in every other code as far as I can tell. |
Manny, The same scenario you post from NCAA was on the 2016 USA/ASA Softball exam and the correct answer was that it was 1 base because it had not been possessed after the pitch. So I agree with you (Manny) on the ball to the outfield, it should still be considered a deflected batted ball. Ruling that a kick of a batted ball is treated like a thrown ball is inconsistent with this 2016 test question.
With no outs and R1 on 3B, R2 on 2B and B3 at bat, F1 throws a wild pitch that gets away from F2 and stops a few feet from the dugout entrance. As F2 is going to retrieve the ball she accidentally kicks the ball sending it into dead ball territory inside the dugout. a. Umpire should let play continue allowing F2 to retrieve the ball and attempt to make a play on the runners. b. Umpire signals and verbalizes “Dead ball” and awards both runners home since the ball was kicked into dead ball territory making it a two base award. c. Umpire signals and verbalizes “Dead ball” and sends both runners back to the base they legally occupied at the time of the pitch. (d.) Umpire signals and verbalizes “Dead ball” and awards R1 home and R2 3B since the ball is still considered to be a pitched ball. |
A pitched ball vs a batted ball is the differentiating aspect. "Possession" really doesn't factor in.
What happens when F5 dives to the right to try an catch a line drive which deflects off the glove over fair territory and then goes into DBT? Two base award. What happens when a batted ball that lands fair down a foul line and then rolls beyond a temporary fence that stopped at the foul line? Two base award. What happens when a batted ball hits the outfield fence on the fly, bounces back off the chest of the fielder and then bounces over the fence. Two base award. What happens when an outfielder dives after a base hit down a line in an attempt to not let it get by, but the ball deflects off the glove into DBT? Two base award. What happens when an outfielder dives feet first after a base hit down a line in an attempt to not let it get by, but the ball deflects off the foot, shin, knee, or head into DBT? Two base award. None of the above include possession. All of the above are a two base award. |
We did go through this a while ago.
This post began on a different subject, i.e. USSSA award for a kicked ball to DBT and then went on a bit of a tangent. Here's the past post: https://forum.officiating.com/softba...ll-status.html |
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