FED BOO (Boo)

[WestMichiganBlue]

Information for NFHS umpires.

Lively discussion on other boards about the number of outs charged when an improper batter was put out on the play. In the past the batter that failed to bat was called out, and any runners put out on the play (ie., forced at 3B) would stand. But an exception stated that the out on the batter that failed to bat superseded the out made by the improper batter on the play. It was like Poof! She disappeared. Whether the improper batter flied out or hit a HR, it was all negated.

The 2003 NFHS re-write of Rule 7 appeared to be calling the improper batter out. 7.2.2 “When an improper batter . . . is put out . . . . EFFECT: Any outs on the play stand. Period. No disclaimer about not calling the improper batter out. So now we have the proper batter AND the improper batter being called out. Two outs! Plus any other runner that may have been put out.

After two days of e-mails between myself and the Softball Director at M.H.S.A.A. and the Softball Chair at NFHS, we got back an official interpretation. The sentence “Any outs on the play stand” refers only to other runners put out on the play. The improper batter is still Poof! So nothing has changed; FED is not the same as ASA, but the new book sure would make you think so. Any FED umpires probably should hand onto this interpretation in case you get challenged on the rule this year.

WMB

[5 sport ref]

What would happen in this hypothetical situation. R1 on second R2 on first no outs. Improper batter in the box. Improper batter hits a one hopper to F5 who steps on third for the force on R1, throws to F4 who forces R2 at second and then throws to first to try for a triple play but the improper batter/runner beats the throw. Defense properly appeals that the runner now on first was improper. What do we have? I would have ruled three outs, two on the double play and one for the improper batter.

What would the ruling be?

[Roger Greene]

Correct. 3 outs.
Roger Greene

[CecilOne]

Originally posted by WestMichiganBlue
[B]Information for NFHS umpires.
... snip ...
After two days of e-mails between myself and the Softball Director at M.H.S.A.A. and the Softball Chair at NFHS, we got back an official interpretation. The sentence “Any outs on the play stand” refers only to other runners put out on the play. The improper batter is still Poof! So nothing has changed; FED is not the same as ASA, but the new book sure would make you think so. Any FED umpires probably should hand onto this interpretation in case you get challenged on the rule this year.

WMB

Good work, WMB!

[WestMichiganBlue]

Yes, three outs, but called for the double play and the proper batter.

Sit: bases loaded, no outs, B5 bats instead of B4, one hopper to F5, force at 3B, force at 2B, safe at 1B, runner scores. Defense appeals BOO.

Results: B4 called out for BOO. Outs on runners forced at 3B and 2B stand. Runner not put out is returned to 3B (no score). B5 is removed from base, did not have a legal time at bat. End of inning. B5 is first batter next inning.

WMB

[greymule]

Unless something has changed, in Fed the batter does not go "poof" the way a Little League runner does on certain plays. The batter bats again.

Abel on 2B, Baker on 1B, no out. Daniels bats instead of Charles and hits into a 6-4-3 double play. Coach appeals BOO. Charles is out for failing to bat in the proper order. Baker is out on the force play. Two outs, Abel returns to 2B and Daniels does not go poof but bats again. In ASA, all three outs stand, and Edwards leads off the next inning.

Same situation, Daniels hits into a double play, F5 unassisted to F4. Charles is out for BOO, Abel and Baker are out on the force plays. Three outs, Daniels leads off the next inning. Same in ASA.

OBR is completely different in both plays.

[CecilOne]

And this is a softball forum.