Runner hit by batted ball
 

Ball hit to shortstop who is playing in, she boots it and ball hits runner, behind the shortstop and after she had made a play on ball. No other infielder was in a position to make a play on the ball. Field umpire called her out. I am a baseball umpire, and in this sit, we have nothing, play on. Is it different in softball? Fed rules.

By the way, after the game I visited with the plate umpire and asked for the interp. He said that in softball, whenever a runner is hit by a batted ball, she is out, but a softball umpire I work with said the rule is the same as baseball. Color me confused.

The PU's interp that "anytime a runner is hit with a batted ball" is completely erroneous.

Speaking ASA

A runner who is struck with an untouched, fair batted ball is not out if that ball has passed a fielder, other than the pitcher and no other fielder has the opportunity to make an out. This would not be true if the runner, in the umpire's judgment, intentionally contacted the batted ball.

Didn't sound to me like this was an untouched batted ball (ie: "...she boots it...after she had made a play on the ball..." )

Did F6 actually touch the ball and deflect it at the runner? In that case, you have a deflected batted ball which is covered by a different rule. If the runner was unavoidably hit then she's still not out. The differences with the rule Irish posted above would be: It doesn't matter if the runner was in front of or behind the fielder, and; The part about "another fielder having a play" doesn't apply.

NFHS 8-8-4 - A runner is not out:
NFHS 8-8-6 - A runner is not out:

Thanks for the replies and rule references. No longer confused but now upset that two state registered high school officials are so ignorant of the rules, or just choose to lie to cover up their partner's mistake. Either way, it is disappointing.:mad:

Initial Play
 

The FED also has "initial play" on the ball. Meaning that if the ball is booted and the ball is within a step and a reach of the fielder, we still protect the fielder and intent is not required to get an out on the runner.

True statement.


But the rules I quoted are referring to a ball hitting the runner, not a runner interfering with the fielder.


That would be this one:


NFHS 8-6-10 - The runner is out:

The rules for a batted ball striking a runner are not the same as baseball in all cases, but in THIS case, they are - your runner should not be out.

What about....
 

Suppose the deflected ball makes contact with the runner and the runner is a step and a reach from the fielder?

I feel your pain, after the last 2 HS games Ive worked I also wonder how some of these guys are "certified" HS umpires.

As for the step and reach in FED, if the fielder deflects the ball into the path of the runner, and the runner could not avoid the ball, step and reach does not apply.

It's covered by 8-8-6.

Don't mix the rules. It is irrelevant if the ball makes contact with the runner while the runner is that close to the fielder. the other rules will tell you what to rule.

rwest, based on your question with an "initial play" within a step and a reach, you have an out for interference per rule.

No. Maybe you should describe a situation to illustrate your meaning... but generally, what you said just now is false.

As has already been mentioned, FED 8-8-6 The runner is not out when a runner is hit with a fair batted ball after it touches, or is touched by any fielder, including the pitcher, and the runner could not avoid contact with the ball.

In Florida, you can miss 12 out of 50 questions and still call HS varsity games. Other states are equally lax. Most of us take great pride in knowing and understanding the rules ... but certification as an NFHS umpire at the minimum level means that the individual really doesn't know the rule book very well. :mad:

AZ requires 90% or better to be "certified" to call varsity games and the test is 100 questions. But, umpiring is knowing more than just how to read the rule book.

True because it was deflected.

In Texas, umpires who belong to a UIL chapter are allowed to miss only 5 questions (make a 90%), to be eligible to call HS varsity.

On part 2 of the test, you have to make a 90 or higher to be able to call playoffs. Part 2 only has 25 questions. (Ergo, you are only allowed to miss 2 on it.)

Does it work like basketball where the tests are open book and you can take them as many times as needed to reach the 90%?

It is open book. I cannot remember how many times you get for the first test, but there are retake chances. The second test you get three tries, and that is all. If you don't make 90 (92 actually) in three tries, then you don't work playoffs.