I just watched the video again, and I see her arms extended forward, hands going straight for the chest/shoulder area of the catcher. That's not a defensive motion, that's the motion of someone trying to knock someone else over.

I think you and I will just have to agree to disagree on this.

Fair enough. I would be interested to hear the PU's take. I'll have to ask some of the San Antonio folks about it.

I'd like to know the opinions from the uppers on this play.... it looks just so nasty. its an ejection fest just waiting to happen.

I'll be in your boat. The runner was not within range of touching the plate. If the catcher was not there, she may not have reached the plate. That means there is only one other thing she could possibly be doing and it wasn't tiptoeing through the tulips. Watch the catcher's head snap back. That was not done with anyone's hands or arms. NFL players are fined for hits like that.

What do you think that player would say if she was called out and ejected?

She did appear to be close enough to touch home plate with a simple roll over. However, aiming for the chest/shoulders doesn't help her case any, not to mention the fact that if she had enough time to react and reach forward, why didn't the rest of her body display any other avoidance behaviors like a stutter- or side-step? Her only reaction was to put her arms forward at the catcher's chest and push forward.

What do you think that player would say if she was called out and ejected?[/QUOTE]

If I were a betting man, I'd say her exact response would be, "but she was in the way!"


In the end, I don't think this play had any effect on the outcome of the game. The team won 3-0. I still feel badly for the catcher. I can't stand seeing someone get hit like that in softball.

I encourage it in football and hockey, though. ;)

Get the case book, first of all. This is illegal contact in Federation.

If you can not see that this is illegal in Federation, come to Maryland's state meeting so the Maryland Federation Interpreter can set you straight.

I get in a pickle when people can not call a spade a spade. Blatantly obvious.

just looked at it again. runners knees hit first, then she levels the catcher with her hands. hello, what is going on here.

I think I'd flag that if I saw it in a football game. :eek:

Yeah, but I don't call either sport, so to hell with 'em. :D

Just kidding. I've seen what hits like that can lead to, and it's just cheap. Just cheap.

And someone posted, oh, that was you:) now that I think of it, what that hit led to. She was wrapped as if shoulder was dislocated. I know cause I had mine wrapped just like that when it happened.

So, your case book determines judgement for you? Interesting.

Great, I've been meaning to make a pilgrimage to the Mecca of softball officiating that is Maryland and seek counsel from it's Federation Interpreter.

Fellas, fellas... Don't make me start ejecting people... ;)

The play calls itself.


She bowled the catcher over. DB, out and go home.

Some umpires, not saying this one, are "chicken manure".

Well come on over, it's never to late to learn what malicious contact is.:):cool:

How do you guys split the shaded boxes when you reply to someone? Thanks