Ruling on both

quote:

Originally posted by thecloser:
Power lines hang over the field. A fly ball gets stuck in the lines over fair territory.

A ball is hit to the fence. While running for the ball, the left fielder spots a snake. He immediately runs away and informs the umpire there is no way he is going after the ball.

Ruling on both. Thanks

For the power lines, I would have to say that would be a ground rule that was set up, so what ever was discussed at the pre game meeting would be the rule

As for the Snake...was it big? Posion kind? If it was big and could kill you, ground rule double, if it was small and couldn't kill you, inside the park HR

Snakes are part of the field just like umpires---ball is in play

BTW small snakes can kill you as easily as a big snake

All I want to know is where in the world are you guys playing with two grounds situations like that???

Couple of summers ago, during summer collegiate wood bat league in rural western Kentucky, son was in LF. He was ready for the next pitch when time was called and everyone in grandstand was laughing and looking at him. Turns out, a curious skunk had meandered from the field across the road, through a hole in the left center fence and was wandering towards the left field bullpen behind him on the warning track. Needless to say, he watched the rest of the journey from the infield and play did not resume until the skunk exited and crossed back over to a wooded area on the other side of the road. You just can't make this stuff up!!

quote:

Originally posted by thecloser:
Power lines hang over the field. A fly ball gets stuck in the lines over fair territory.

A ball is hit to the fence. While running for the ball, the left fielder spots a snake. He immediately runs away and informs the umpire there is no way he is going after the ball.

Ruling on both. Thanks

Power lines hanging over the field....This is something that should be addressed in ground rules. As these lines are unique to this field, the hometeam has the latitude to set ground rules above and beyond the basic ground rules, as long as they do not directly contradict the offical rules of baseball and should be agreed upon prior to the start of the game....

If the coaches cant agree on the ground rules, its up to the UIC to determine how it will be played....

I have a field that has trees hanging over into the field and its considered DBT...

Snake in the outfield....having umpired in Texas where even a small rattlesnake can be hazardous...from a safety of the participant standpoint, I would invoke the seldom used rule of 9.01c and kill the ball and place runners on the bases where I felt that they would have gotten absent the snake stopping the play....

I would not include or allow any determination of how big or whether or not it was poisonous into my determination.....I dont expect HS ballplayers to be herpetologists...I will however want to verify that there is a snake.....

quote:

Originally posted by piaa_ump:

Snake in the outfield....having umpired in Texas where even a small rattlesnake can be hazardous...from a safety of the participant standpoint, I would invoke the seldom used rule of 9.01c and kill the ball and place runners on the bases where I felt that they would have gotten absent the snake stopping the play....

I would not include or allow any determination of how big or whether or not it was poisonous into my determination.....I dont expect HS ballplayers to be herpetologists...I will however want to verify that there is a snake.....

9.01 (c) is for events not covered, however an animal on the field is covered in PBUC and, I believe, in MLBUM.

Oh, and there is almost always a snake...usually in the firstbase coach's box.

quote:

I have a field that has trees hanging over into the field and its considered DBT...

Dead Ball Territory?

quote:

Snake in the outfield....having umpired in Texas where even a small rattlesnake can be hazardous...from a safety of the participant standpoint, I would invoke the seldom used rule of 9.01c and kill the ball and place runners on the bases where I felt that they would have gotten absent the snake stopping the play....

I would not include or allow any determination of how big or whether or not it was poisonous into my determination.....I dont expect HS ballplayers to be herpetologists...I will however want to verify that there is a snake.....

I think this would be an interesting situation..

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
Snakes are part of the field just like umpires---ball is in play

BTW small snakes can kill you as easily as a big snake

Umpires are not part of the field. When a batted ball hits one without passing an infielder or being deflected, the ball is dead. If F2 tries to get a stealing runner and doesn't b/c his throwing arm hit the PU, the ball is dead and runners return.

How many myths are we up to now?