The dreaded R1 on 2B SS and runner collide
 

Situation- two out R1 on 2nd base hit up the middle SS turns to go towards the ball and collides with R1. There was no way that SS is going to field the ball. I have obstruction. It was in a high school semi final game. The defensive team runs off the field and the crowd is yelling great call, and the offensive team vacates the bases and goes into the field. The coach comes out between innings her wheels are turning in her mind as she walks. She says you had obstruction didn't you? Yes. But we just ran off the field? Yes. So it's our fault? Yes. Then she went back to the dugout. I asked my partner if I blew it, of course he said no he agreed with the obstruction. But he is less experienced and I can't tell if he was just saying that to kiss up or if he really felt that way.

Here is the interesting thing. I think in ASA I got the call wrong but in College and High School I got it wright (I think). Let me know how you see it.

College rule: Interference "reasonable opportunity to play the ball...ball must have been playable."

Fed rule: "batted ball which the defensive player has an initial play"

ASA rule: "fielder attempting to field a batted fair ball"

Why did they run off the field?

A couple of questions...

When you called the OBS, where did you feel the runner would have ended up had there been no OBS? 3B or HP?

Was R1 subsequently tagged out during this play?

Did you announce the award?

We're missing a lot of what happened here, but I'll chime in with this first. If R1 had been tagged out prior to reaching the base she would have reached had there been no OBS, you should've killed the play with a "dead ball," and then make your award (3B or HP). If, in your judgment, R1 would have reached HP, but stopped at 3B, then you suspend play and make your award as soon as play has ended.

From the limited info I have here, it sounds like you let the players dictate what happened instead of taking charge and following through with the OBS call. Is there something that I might be missing that could mitigate that assessment?

I don't mean to sound harsh or critical, as I'm sure we've all had those moments at one point in time in all of our careers! :)

Getting back to this point, yes. You most certainly have OBS if you feel that the fielder had no shot at fielding the ball, and, as a result of that assessment, had no business being where she was.

more info
 

slap hitter at the plate outfield pulled in. Runner reaches third and that is the base she would have reached had there been no obstruction. Left arm was out with the delayed dead ball signal and obstruction was a loud verbal (in fact I left the arm out there even as everyone was leaving the field).
The runner on first touched first and then went to her dugout and the runner on third ran off the field to the first base dugout. Of course the defensive players all ran off the field almost immediately. Maybe I could of stopped everyone but the runner reached her base, so I didn't see her as protected anymore. :rolleyes:

In this case, I don't think there was anything more for you to do. R1 reached 3B (the base you felt she would have reached without the OBS), and the BR reached 1B. If the BR reached 1B and then ran off the field, you've got 3 outs.

We don't know why the BR ran back into her dugout. Maybe she had hurt herself, maybe she had to pee, or maybe she heard her cell phone ring and wanted to send a few text messages.

If you had done anything more than what you'd done, you would have been OOO. However, I'm satisfied with how you handled it. If anything, her 1B coach screwed up, not you.

Wade, what were those words you used in another post?:D

"Don't touch me?" Just kidding...

DMR!

Given all the info, it appears the offense blew it. OC realized it.

Strange things happen on the ball field and it is too bad they blew it. Hard way to go. Nothing you could do about it.

I have a question though. How loud is a "loud verbal"?

Thanks.

I don't think his indicator doubles as a decibel meter. :D

At least, I know this one doesn't!
http://sabian.whispers.org/indicator2.jpg

Dave,

Tienes una esposa y es muy tarde! La mia esta en Iraq con USAID. Vete a dormir.

Ron

Yeah, yeah, I know, I know... Sheesh, you're sounding like her! ;)

I think the loud verbal was probably loud enough, as I'm imagining him in C, facing the general direction of the 1B dugout. The OP mentions that the OC knew he had OBS on the call, so it sounds like everyone was pretty aware of his call.

Bueno, a dormir! :D

I was thinking that perhaps it was too loud and scared those poor kids. :)

But either way, yes, it sounds like the offense blew it.