Ground Rules ?

[NCASAUmp]

I'm thinking it's a two-base award.

[NCASAUmp]

Oh, let me clarify that... If it ends up going out of play, I'd give a two-base award. If it stays in play, and the fielder catches it before it hits the ground, then it's a live ball, but not a catch.

[Chess Ref]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Oh, let me clarify that... If it ends up going out of play, I'd give a two-base award. If it stays in play, and the fielder catches it before it hits the ground, then it's a live ball, but not a catch.

I'm guessing I'm misunderstanding your reply.

Fly ball to the tree branches. left fielder gets under it. the ball hits a branch, fielder catches it . It's a live ball but it's NOT an out. I'm thinking thats gonna cause a lotta unnecessary grief for me.

[Dakota]

Why? It would not be an out if it hit the ground first, would it?

How it will be handled should be discussed completely at the plate meeting as part of the ground rules. If explained there, there should be no issue during the game.

Although at 250' out, I'd probably just suggest keeping it simple - ground rule double, dead ball.

[wadeintothem]

I 2nd Dakota's .. and that is what is probably the expected ground rule from the teams.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

I'm guessing I'm misunderstanding your reply.

Fly ball to the tree branches. left fielder gets under it. the ball hits a branch, fielder catches it . It's a live ball but it's NOT an out. I'm thinking thats gonna cause a lotta unnecessary grief for me.

The ball is still considered "in flight" so long as it doesn't touch the ground or "any object or person" other than a defensive player. Well, if it hit the trees, it hit an object. Same thing goes for if some poor bird gets hit mid-air. Even though the bird was 80' above the ground, it's the same as hitting the ground. "Sorry, fellas, but I didn't write the book."

Years ago, I used to call in a league that had no fences. However, on one of the fields, there was a set of football bleachers in centerfield. It took a pretty decent poke to hit the bleachers, but some of the kids could do it. If it bounced into the bleachers, we ruled it a ground rule double. Hit on the fly, and it was a home run.