Think I missed One - Obstruction at 1B

[fastpitch]

Can you call obstruction at 1B if there is a fielder behind the safety base that causes the runner to slow down?

Tonight in a 12B ASA Tournament had grounder to 1B, 2B covers 1B but 1B decides to take it. 2B moves over behind the safety base while 1B tags the white base on a close play before the B/R touches and I call her out. The B/R slows down due to 2B being behind the safety base, maybe 2 feet. She would have run over the 2B had she continued through the base. I think I should have signaled obstruction and awarded her 1B. I haven't reread the Obstruction rule tonight but would appreciate comments.

[Steve M]

If a defensive player, without the ball, caused a runner to alter her chosen path to the base, you've got obstruction. So, yeah, it does sound like you missed that one.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Steve M

If a defensive player, without the ball, caused a runner to alter her chosen path to the base, you've got obstruction. So, yeah, it does sound like you missed that one.

As long as the slow down was before F3 touched the base for the putout.

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

As long as the slow down was before F3 touched the base for the putout.

Is it possible to obstruct a retired runner, Cecil? I may have read that differently, but I was sure our original play description had the runner slowing before the out, so I saw no need to make that point.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Steve M

Is it possible to obstruct a retired runner, Cecil? I may have read that differently, but I was sure our original play description had the runner slowing before the out, so I saw no need to make that point.

1) I didn't add that point for you, as I always assume there are some newbies reading.
2) To me, the OP sequence "1B tags the white base ... before the B/R touches ... The B/R slows down" was unclear about which happened first.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

1) I didn't add that point for you, as I always assume there are some newbies reading.
2) To me, the OP sequence "1B tags the white base ... before the B/R touches ... The B/R slows down" was unclear about which happened first.

But the OP also stated "on a close play," which would have me believing that if the B/R hadn't slowed down she would have probably beaten the play by F3. Which brings us back to Steve's original post.