Fielder crashing into runner.

[GaryBarrentine]

ASA Rules

Can a fielder(with the ball) crash into a runner?

Example:

Catcher retrieves an over thrown ball at fence(about 12-15 feet from base line) about 15 feet up the 3rd base line. Runner coming from 2nd, rounds 3rd and is about 10 feet from the plate when the catcher, now holding ball with glove and throwing hand against her chest and at a full sprint, crashes into the runner.

Is this just an out, a wreck, or something else?

GaryB

[Dholloway1962]

Originally Posted by GaryBarrentine

ASA Rules

Can a fielder(with the ball) crash into a runner?

Example:

Catcher retrieves an over thrown ball at fence(about 12-15 feet from base line) about 15 feet up the 3rd base line. Runner coming from 2nd, rounds 3rd and is about 10 feet from the plate when the catcher, now holding ball with glove and throwing hand against her chest and at a full sprint, crashes into the runner.

Is this just an out, a wreck, or something else?

GaryB

I know NFHS addressed this last year and made malicious contact by the defense an ejection, same as if committed by the offense.

As far as I know, there is no "defense malicious contact rule" in ASA. But unsportsmanlike conduct can be called and give umpire leeway to deal with appropriately.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Dholloway1962

I know NFHS addressed this last year and made malicious contact by the defense an ejection, same as if committed by the offense.

As far as I know, there is no "defense malicious contact rule" in ASA. But unsportsmanlike conduct can be called and give umpire leeway to deal with appropriately.

Agreed. If I judge that any participant intentionally made malicious contact with another participant, someone's heading to the parking lot.

[wadeintothem]

I would just caution that hard play/tag does not necessarily mean its malicious. There can be a high intensity level action .. or there can be a malicious play - and I think they are distiguishable.

The OP is borderline IMO.. but just speaking in general terms.

A good example is defense against a good squeeze play often includes executed defensive play that exceeds bubbly softness.

[vcblue]

Speaking ASA this is not a crash this is a play. Per the rule book a crash can only be called on a runner who "crashes" in to a fielder with the ball.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by vcblue

Speaking ASA this is not a crash this is a play. Per the rule book a crash can only be called on a runner who "crashes" in to a fielder with the ball.

I think you're getting too hung up in the terminology. What's being described here is malicious contact. That's something that does not need to be defined by the book.

[CecilOne]

The "holding ball with glove and throwing hand against her chest" part is what looks like USC or malicious, not reaching out for tag.
But judgement might be that it was just clumsy or misreading the runner.