Fly ball hits corner of outfield wall.
 

Not having much to do this popped into my head. I’ve searched the Softball Forum but didn’t see where this may have already been discussed.

Outfield wall with flat top. Fly ball is hit to outfield and hits front top corner (edge) of the wall.

1) Ball goes out of play. Home run? Ground Rule Double?

2) Ball comes back onto playing field. Home run? Ground Rule Double? Playable?

3) Ball bounces up, hits flat top of wall, goes out of play. Home run? Ground Rule Double?

4) Ball bounces up, hits flat top of wall, comes back onto playing field. Home run? Ground Rule Double? Playable?

Actually, I think we've hashed over something similar. I'll see if I can find the post...

Home run. A ball may bounce on top of a fence and go over for a home run.

Got nothing. Play on.

Home run. Same reason as #1

If the fielders have no chance at getting the ball while it's up on top of the wall, I've got a blocked ball. Otherwise, I've got nothing. Play on.

There could also be a local ground rule about this.

And found it...

http://forum.officiating.com/softbal...ndecision.html

Dave you may want to rethink #2. To me, "ball bounces up" means not in flight, and won't be a home run.

Uhhh... Not sure what you're reading, but I didn't rule #2 a home run. Live ball. Play on. :)

Sorry for any confusion. Please let me clarify a little.

The thing I was getting at: is that front corner / edge of the top of the wall considered part of the top of the wall or part of the face of the wall? If it is part of the top of the wall wouldn't a fly ball hitting there be a home run? If it is part of the face of the wall wouldn't a fly ball hitting there be a ground rule double if it then went out of play or playable if it came back onto the field?

BTW I wasn't thinking of it resting on top of the wall.

I got lazy and bolded my answers.

I believe that the entirety of the top of the fence is treated the same as the face of the fence.

I believe the OP means that all of the setup of the play applies to all of the variations. IOW, #'s 3 and 4 would more completely be stated as...

IOW, it bounced up off the front edge of the fence, not off the ground. At least, that is how I read it.

Interpreting that way, I would only change my answer to #3 - HR.

For the ASA answers, look at R/S #26. In particular, you should look at section B, which states:

Fence, wall, same thing.

Typo, meant #3. That also was based on a different understanding of ball bounced up; it sure sounded to me like a ball that hit the ground and bounced up.

Never mind.

You owe me a Coke. ;)

When I first discovered softball boards this discussion took place. I played it out in my mind and think you are asking what I wondered at the time. Though no one said it in that previous discussion, I satisfied it in my mind that:
> If it hit that front corner of the top of the wall in such a way that it bounces over, then it is considered to have been off the top of the wall and thus a home run.
> If it hit that front corner of the top of the wall in such a way that it bounces back into the park, then it is considered to have hit the front of the wall and thus alive and in play.

Yes, I know I was over analyzing things at the time and my mathematical back ground makes me realize that the top right angle of the wall is not necessarily an exact, perfect angle and might be rounded, that the contact of a round ball could cause a number of variable results other than the two I listed above. But that's were we just have to judge the outcome and not over analyze.

I mean, honestly, in a two man crew, do you think the PU is going to be able to see it that closely. :)