As a PU, had a play the other night in an 0ver-30 wooden bat league game. Runner at 3rd. Pitcher released the ball to the plate. The catcher was very quick, and saw the runner coming home - leapt up to catch the pitch, positioning himself OVER the plate, waiting for the ball. Apparently it was a squeeze play, because the batter still somehow managed to come around to the bunt position, just in front of the catcher, and managed to make contact with the ball, which went foul.
I called Foul Ball, and after some "chirping" everyone seemed to accept the call. But in retrospect, as the catcher and batter actually made physical contact, this was the wrong call.
I just found rule 7.07 which addresses this exact scenario: "If, with a runner on third base and trying to score by means of a squeeze play or a steal, the catcher steps on or in front of home without posession of the ball, or touches the batter or his bat, the pitcher shall be charged with a balk, the batter shall be awarded first base on the interference, and the ball is dead".
The rule doesn't address the runner at third. As the call should have been balk, the runner at third should score, right?
As rule 7.07 is kind of obscure, if and when I have this scenario again, when I call a Balk, I can already hear the arguing in my mind!
Original Post
