obstruction

[Mountaineer]

OK - here's the official word from NF and ASA. One of our interpreters is tied in fairly high up and got these responses (hasn't heard from NCAA yet).

NF - runners end up on 2nd & 1st. The premise being that we are protecting the runners to their rightful base. Even though the BR has legally touched the base, it still belongs to R1 until she reaches 3rd or is put out. Since she was going TO second when the obstruction occured - that's where she should end up.

ASA - runners end up on 2nd and 3rd. They see the BR as having legally attained 2nd and you cannot take that away from her. That would then force R1 to move to 3rd.

Unfortunately, this is (IMO) the biggest problem in softball - continuity in the rules. We need the governing bodies to band together and develop a set of rules that can be used across all spectrums of the game.

So technically - everyone is correct and everyone is wrong. Scratch your heads but be thankful you umpire softball instead of that communist sport baseball! LOL!

Larry Ledbetter