home run??

[shipwreck]

NFHS rules. Game using portable fence. Bases loaded 2 outs. The ball is hit to deep left field. Left fielder races back towards the fence and the ball goes off her glove and she crashes into the portable fence and is laying on the fence in the full down position. The ball lands on the fence while it is laying flat and then rolls back into the field of play. It either just rolled back in or when the fence came back to normal position, the fence pushed the ball back in, not sure which took place. We signaled home run. I think we ruled correctly but can't find this situation in the rulebook. It kind of threw us off because the center fielder picked up the ball and threw it into third base trying to retire the batter/runner. Can any one give me a rule reference on this? Thanks.

Dave

[RKBUmp]

FED 2-22-2 says fair territory is to the bottom of the home run fence when vertical. Since the fence was down and the ball landed on it I would say you correctly ruled home run.

[BretMan]

I think that you got it right, but don't have any rule references handy right now. If memory serves, in FED ball if the fence is lying flat on the ground, then it is considered to be laying in dead ball territory. In other words, it's as if the base of the fence still defines the boundry line.

If the fence is just leaning outward, but not touching the ground, then you treat it like a normal fence. It's all in live ball area.

By contrast, the ASA interpretation is that if the fence is lying on the ground, it becomes an extension of live-ball territory. If your play had been in an ASA game, it would not have been a home run, but rather a live playable ball.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by BretMan

I think that you got it right, but don't have any rule references handy right now. If memory serves, in FED ball if the fence is lying flat on the ground, then it is considered to be laying in dead ball territory. In other words, it's as if the base of the fence still defines the boundry line.

If the fence is just leaning outward, but not touching the ground, then you treat it like a normal fence. It's all in live ball area.

By contrast, the ASA interpretation is that if the fence is lying on the ground, it becomes an extension of live-ball territory. If your play had been in an ASA game, it would not have been a home run, but rather a live playable ball.

In ASA she can stand on the fence and catch it for an out! In FED she can't.

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by rwest

In ASA she can stand on the fence and catch it for an out! In FED she can't.

Isn't that what I just said???

[rwest]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Isn't that what I just said???

I was just taking it to the next logical progression.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Isn't that what I just said???

What, we can't restate what someone else said in fewer words anymore???

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Dakota

What, we can't restate what someone else said in fewer words anymore???

If you say so