Skip to main content

Play at home: Bat boy runs out to retrieve bat during play. As he picks up bat in front of plate, the ball thrown from the outfielder just misses the batboy. The catcher loses site of bouncing ball and misses it.

Run scores although the ball was there in time to make play if catcher was able to handle.

What's the correct call?

Run score?

Runner is out?

Runner is placed back to third?

or ... Something else?
“The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing”. Philosopher Edmund Burke
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I have interference........

Using fed rule 3-2 art 3. "No offensive team personnel, other than a base coach, shall be near a base for which a runner is trying so that a fielder may be confused; nor be on or near the baseline in such a ways as to draw a throw; nor shall the base coach or members of the team at bat fail to vacate any area needed by a fielder in his attempt to put out a a batter or runner."

Penalty......Ball is dead immediately and the runner is out. No run scores.
There was a play similar to that in a varsity softball game in our area a few years ago. Two outs, runner at 2B, batter gets a hit to the outfield. As runner rounds 3B, on-deck batter goes to retrieve the bat which was on the chalk. As she bends over, the runner takes a tumble over her, and the catcher takes the LATE throw and tags her for the third out. Final score, 2-1, and you know who lost.

That was the most beautiful cross-body block I've seen in years.
In my case yesterday, the umpire let the play stand. He said he would give the opposition a warning so that if it happens again, he'll call the runner out.

I figured the rulebook addressed this situation but we were ahead by plenty and it was a low level tournament and that's what we got... low level noncert umpires.

I simply asked the umpire to check out the rulebook when he got home so that he'd make the correct call next time. He sincerely said he would and we moved on.

Thanks for your help.
quote:
Originally posted by SBK:
In my case yesterday, the umpire let the play stand. He said he would give the opposition a warning so that if it happens again, he'll call the runner out.

I figured the rulebook addressed this situation but we were ahead by plenty and it was a low level tournament and that's what we got... low level noncert umpires.

I simply asked the umpire to check out the rulebook when he got home so that he'd make the correct call next time. He sincerely said he would and we moved on.

Thanks for your help.


Warning? If he doesn't know this is interference, he should quit umpiring until he learns the rules.

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×