whats the ruling? I thought in high school baseball you had to slide in to homeplate if there is a play?
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Hanover Game**
in the pre-season parents meeting, i thought the rep from the umpires assn said you had to slide/'avoid contact'. i know he said on a double play ball you had to get down and slide 'straight at the bag'. that seems to me to be a clear statement that contact is supposed to be avoided. dr had other opportunities to be sure, but it seems there needs to be some calibration here....
That is the correct rule. Application in any particular instance depends on the umpire's judgment call, though, so you get what you get in any particular game situation. Bear in mind that the angle you have from the stands may make it appear that the runner was in the way when in fact he may have veered out of the line of the throw. So don't be too quick to judge.
Midlo-
In this case the catcher was set up on the line with the ball in hand when he was hit, rolled, and had the ball knocked out of his closed glove. I have seen players ejected for less. ALthough I found it more disturbing that the umpire missed the out/safe call (out due to inappropriate contact)than that a competative high school ball player would get lost in the moment and bowl over a catcher. I do not believe that the action taken by the runner was malicious.
In this case the catcher was set up on the line with the ball in hand when he was hit, rolled, and had the ball knocked out of his closed glove. I have seen players ejected for less. ALthough I found it more disturbing that the umpire missed the out/safe call (out due to inappropriate contact)than that a competative high school ball player would get lost in the moment and bowl over a catcher. I do not believe that the action taken by the runner was malicious.
YesReally,
I saw the play a bit differently...from my view which was between home plate and the first base dugout, the catcher received the ball well up the line and in foul territory. The catcher returned to the baseline to tag the runner when contact was made dislodging the ball. But this was well up the line...if the runner slides he is well short of home plate. The only option the runner had was to stop. I don't think stopping in the middle of the baseline is required (e.g. runner to 1b does not slide when the first baseman comes off the base on a wild throw).
It should be noted that this was an exciting game with the kids from both teams competing to the very end.
I saw the play a bit differently...from my view which was between home plate and the first base dugout, the catcher received the ball well up the line and in foul territory. The catcher returned to the baseline to tag the runner when contact was made dislodging the ball. But this was well up the line...if the runner slides he is well short of home plate. The only option the runner had was to stop. I don't think stopping in the middle of the baseline is required (e.g. runner to 1b does not slide when the first baseman comes off the base on a wild throw).
It should be noted that this was an exciting game with the kids from both teams competing to the very end.
I do not think it matters where the catcher was on the baseline. Runner cannot knock over defensive player with ball in hand in the baseline - if he could then this would be an option in any run down.Runner can return to 3b or otherwise attempt to avoid the tag. It is water under the bridge at this point and I agree it was a great game to watch and both teams competed well. I would love a rules clarification from those who know the rules.
me as well. I just want to know the rules for future references.
Just read the rulebook regarding this play. Per the rule book, if a tag is evident, the runner must slide or seek to avoid contact. If it's not evident or if you seek to avoid contact but there is still contact it seems like the runner is not out. Not sure if either applied on this play but there is room for judgement. And obviously I was wrong in my understanding of the rule.
update- for what it's worth, the catcher has missed 2 games due to concussion. pulled up a soph (who has done a great job).....
Unfortunate to hear about the catcher. Was his mask off during the collision?
don't recall. sorry.
No, if i remember correctly his facemask was still on
Sorry to hear about the catcher. Hope he's able to return to the lineup soon.