ASA case

[Steve M]

Don,
I was kinda hoping to see Mike's response to this one. I do not see this covered in ASA's Rule 5 (dealing with The Game), in Rule 11 (dealing with Scorkeeping), or in POE 31. It is not dealt with by Rule 8, Section 6, Article B with anything specific, but that article reads:
"3. When a runner, ...... will always be awarded the base r bases which would have been reached, in the umpire's judgement, had there been no obstruction. ..." Using this wording, and knowing what NFHS sez, I would look at where exactly this runner was at the time of the third out. If more than halfway from 3B to home, I am pretty sure that I would award this obstructed runner home and instruct the scorer to count that run.
As to the obstruction "going off" once the runner passes the next base, not really. The obstructed runner is protected between the bases where the obstruction occurred, but watch the closeness of the play. POE 31, partway through, sez "If the obstructed runner is put out prior to reaching the base he would have reached had there not been obstruction..." So if R1 is obstructed between 1B & 2B and is thrown out on a very close play at 3B, you should have a dead ball and an award of 3B to R1.