over throw

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by Manny A

I can't imagine why the third base coach would argue unless he/she just didn't know the rules. As others have alluded, the award is two bases from the time the ball leaves the fielder's hand (not, as some believe, when the ball enters dead ball territory), so depending on where the runners were when the left fielder threw the ball is what you use to base your ruling.

Given this was a bases-loaded clean single, I'm thinking that when the left fielder released the throw to third, she was making a play on the runner from first base, and that the batter-runner was already past first base. So the award of third to the batter-runner would be appropriate. If, however, the play was on the runner who started at second base (hard hit ball to left, and the left fielder is making a force-play throw to third), then there's no way the batter-runner ends up at third on the award.

Why? Depending on the level of play (which isn't stated in the OP, it is possible that even on a hard hit ball, the runner from second could still be in between 2nd and 3rd and the LF could be making a play while the runner from first is already past second and the batter-runner is past first.

I have seen it in my Wednesday co-ed league. We have a team with a female who bats 10th in the lineup who due to knee issues can hardly run. The leadoff male batter is a former state placer in the sprints in track as is the female who bats second in the lineup. They both have speed and can reach the next base well prior to the runner who would be on second would make it to third. I have seen her thrown out from the outfield on multiple occasions.

As an aside, she is also an official who I have worked with in volleyball many times.