Runner on 3rd; Batter walks, continues to second?

[yscleo]

There's a runner at 3rd, with 1B and 2B empty. Batter/runner gets a walk and runs toward 1B, and turns to go toward 2B.

Does the batter/runner has to touch the white part of the first base bag in order to run toward second, or either part of the safety first base bag is good?

Does the first base fielder has to be out of the way, or can s/he be just by 1B ready to catch a throw from the pitcher?

Thanks.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by yscleo

There's a runner at 3rd, with 1B and 2B empty. Batter/runner gets a walk and runs toward 1B, and turns to go toward 2B.

Does the batter/runner has to touch the white part of the first base bag in order to run toward second, or either part of the safety first base bag is good?

Either

Does the first base fielder has to be out of the way, or can s/he be just by 1B ready to catch a throw from the pitcher?

Does F3 have possesion of the ball or in the act of fielding a batted ball?

[yscleo]

No, F1 has the ball, and is watching the B/R running toward 1B and possibly turning toward 2B. F3 doesn't have the ball. So F3 needs to be away from 1B and the basepath toward 2B?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by yscleo

No, F1 has the ball, and is watching the B/R running toward 1B and possibly turning toward 2B. F3 doesn't have the ball. So F3 needs to be away from 1B and the basepath toward 2B?

Those are the only two conditions in which a fielder may impede a runner. For NCAA, add "about to receive the ball" which means the ball must get to the defender before the runner.

[MD Longhorn]

ys is clearly not an umpire... I don't think he/she got your first point, Mike, when you tried to lead them to the answer on their own.

The first question is not a bad question.
The second is something every umpire should know, and it seems every coach/parent doesn't. I bet we (umpires) have to correct this 4-5 times a game the first few games of every season.

(Simplified for a non-umpire, with minor details removed) : Below NCAA, a fielder who is in the act of fielding a batted ball has right of way and must be avoided by runners. Other than that, NO fielder can be in a runner's basepath without the ball. Period. If such a fielder causes the runner to deviate or slow from the path THEY want to take, it's obstruction. And note that I didn't say baseLINE - I said path ... meaning the path the runner chooses to take.

And yes ... this means that every time F3 is standing on the bag (even just the inside corner) on a play where the batter rounds (or tries to round) first base, it's obstruction. Every time F5 is standing on 3rd as a runner from 2nd rounds for home (even if she doesn't GO home), it's obstruction.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

(Simplified for a non-umpire, with minor details removed) : Below NCAA, a fielder who is in the act of fielding a batted ball has right of way and must be avoided by runners. Other than that, NO fielder can be in a runner's basepath without the ball. Period. If such a fielder causes the runner to deviate or slow from the path THEY want to take, it's obstruction. And note that I didn't say baseLINE - I said path ... meaning the path the runner chooses to take.

And yes ... this means that every time F3 is standing on the bag (even just the inside corner) on a play where the batter rounds (or tries to round) first base, it's obstruction. Every time F5 is standing on 3rd as a runner from 2nd rounds for home (even if she doesn't GO home), it's obstruction.

This should be given to every H.S. and youth fastpitch softball coach as well to every parent of a player at these levels. I have H.S. coaches ask me where their players are supposed to stand, and I tell the coaches that I can tell them (coaches) where they (players) cannot stand but they (coaches) have to teach their players where to stand.

MTD, Sr.