Obstruction Question

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by MountieSB

I'm a coach, not an umpire - please continue reading anyway!

R1 on first base, one out, B1 hits a high chopper to F4, F4 fields ball (has ball in glove) and R1 collides with F4 in the baseline. BU calls obstruction, R1 out for obstructing F4. Because F4 was run over, she was unable to complete a throw to first base to get that out (and turn a double play).

My question is this - Is this obstruction, or merely a collision that resulted in an out because of a tag (like you would get with a collision on a play at the plate)? Either way, R1 is out, but I'm just looking for clarification. Because we got an out (I was DC), I was obviously happy, but the other coaches and I were talking about it after the end of the game wondering if it was obstruction or just a tag out. Thoughts?

Thanks for your time.

Mike

Coach,
First (and it is a good thing to use the correct terminology when talking about these things), the "offense" commited by the runner would be interference.

The offense "interferes", the defense "obstructs".

As described, and (depending on which rule book you were using) your call could have gone a few different ways.
Now as to your play, the umpire called "interference" on R1 (rather than out on the tag) we still have to figure out what the interference was.

Could be interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball - in which case we would have R1 out and BR on firstbase, unless........

(in most books) umpire ruled it intentional for the purposes of preventing a double play in which case you could get your second out.

there are a few other possibilities, but those are the most obvious.

(Looks like I'm the slowest typer of the bunch)!!!