NCAA Championship Umpiring

[Yerout]

I concure with Mike's earlier post that the collision initiated by the Cal runner on the catcher constituted interference and ejection by most other softball standards. The replay (I know, the ump didn't have that advantage) showed the runner bringing her arms up for the collision. The catcher cleary is receiving the ball. On almost all other close plays at the plate, the runner would slide headfirst behind the plate and reach out to touch the plate, which seems to be the trend now in baseball and softball. On a late-inning close play at first on Sunday, the Cal batter-runner never got into the running lane and as she hit the base threw a forearm up. The first baseman missed the throw. I don't have an NCAA rule book--perhaps they are not as protective with their base running restrictions.