Hmm, breaking the rules?

[Alameda]

Well, this was a 1st.

Adult CO-ED, batter hits the ball into an adjacent playing field. It rolls all the way into thier infield when one of the players from the other game touches the ball.

Blocked ball.

Only problem, the defense insists it's a homerun (the runner would have easily made it to home, it was that obvious).

So, me being a rookie working with a vet ump looked at my partner and he shrugs his shoulders. After about 2 mintues of us explaining it's a blocked ball and both teams insisting it's a homerun, we decided not to fight city hall, and granted the batter a homerun.

I felt funny about the play, but my partner said "No point argueing with both teams about this. Both teams want it to be a homerun, fine.


Any thoughts?

[BuggBob]

The ball becomes dead when touched by the other team or spectator and runners are awarded bases based upon what you think they could have gotten had the interference not occurred. Home run could be correct if you so rule.

[mcrowder]

Alameda - read the enforcement for blocked ball.

[Alameda]

Ok, so it was ok that we did grant him a homerun, since both of the umps and both the teams agreed, he would have scored.

As far as the 'blocked ball' enforcement, I can only find the definition.

Excuse my noobiness, I did look 1st though, before posting.

Wanna throw me a bone and tell me where to look?

TYIA.

[AtlUmpSteve]

ASA 8.5-K, and EFFECT.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by Alameda

Wanna throw me a bone and tell me where to look?

TYIA.

Actually, I'd like to know how it landed in someone else's field and was still in play.

However, even if it was, it is not only a blocked ball, but spectator interference. And, BTW, it is 8.5.L in the ASA book.

[Alameda]

Thanks guys.

And Mike, we have several fields where the outfields intertwine. Our groundrules state that it's a live ball all the way when it goes into one of the other playing fields. It's chaotic at best, I agree.

Thanks for the clearification all, it's appreciated.

Al.

[mcrowder]

Mike, some of the slowpitch fields I work at have 4 fields that share the same deep CF. A blast to the outfield could conceivably hit one field in deep deep left, another in extremely deep center, and another in deep deep right.

Never happened in my experience, but conceivable. (Obviously, this guy's fields are a little closer together than the ones I refer to.)

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by Alameda
Thanks guys.

And Mike, we have several fields where the outfields intertwine. Our groundrules state that it's a live ball all the way when it goes into one of the other playing fields. It's chaotic at best, I agree.

Thanks for the clearification all, it's appreciated.

Al.

And because the rule book does not cover such fields, this should be covered as a ground rule.

[JEL]

Originally posted by IRISHMAFIA

And because the rule book does not cover such fields, this should be covered as a ground rule.

And I sure wouldn't want to be an outfielder!

[Alameda]

Oh, it's rediculous. Sometimes the other games outfielders are only about 20 feet from our infield!

My mistake (fortunately not a factor in the call) was thinking that at the point of the blocked ball/dead ball, the runners couldn't advance.

Now I know and will be confident in my call.

Thanks again.

[SC Ump]

Originally posted by Alameda
...we have several fields where the outfields intertwine.

Wow, that's nice. Our outfields intertwine with the cows eatin' alfalfa. (Hittin' a cow's only a 2B award.)

[Alameda]

Originally posted by SC Ump
Hittin' a cow's only a 2B award

hehe

[whiskers_ump]

Originally posted by IRISHMAFIA

And because the rule book does not cover such fields, this should be covered as a ground rule.

I agree with Mike. If fields are this close together, then ground rules should
be implemented. Have board get a meet and discuss this. I see nothing but problems.

[wadeintothem]

sounds like a quick ground rules discussion is in order pregame..
as to the play - hey if both teams want a homerun, i dont see any harm in hooking the batter up.

Good call blue!