Fairfax Adult Softball 2011 Umpire Training

Fairfax Adult Softball 2011 Umpire Training Rule 8 - Batter-Runner and Runner

Rule 8Batter-RunnerandRunner

B = Batter – while in the batter’s box BR = Batter-Runner – before securing 1st R = Runner

B Becomes a BR • B legally hits a fair ball • Walked on 4 balls • Catcher obstruction • Fair batted ball strikes a runner OR their attached equipment or clothing

Walks • Dead ball and runners advance, if forced • Walked males in coed are awarded 2nd base (still must touch 1st base (defense can appeal)) • Female has option to walk or bat if there are 2 outs • Intentional walks: • Defense can notify the umpire of their intent to walk the batter • Batter is awarded 1st base • If 2 batters are to be walked back-to-back, the 2nd walk may not be administered until the 1st walked batter touches 1st base • If the umpire allows both walks at the same time, an appeal is not honored on the 1st batter if he misses 1st base.

With R1 on 3B, R2 on 2B, and R3 on 1B, B4 receives ball four. R1 fails to touch home plate. Can R1 be declared out on a proper appeal?

With R1 on 3B, R2 on 2B, and R3 on 1B, B4 receives ball four. R1 fails to touch home plate. Can R1 be declared out on a proper appeal? Yes, since B4 became the BR on ball four, all bases must be touched because a force out situation exists.

Catcher Obstruction • Catcher “obstructs” B’s attempt to hit the ball: • If B hits the ball and is safe at 1st base, AND all runners have advanced at least one base, obstruction is cancelled. • If B hits the ball and is NOT safe at 1st base, OR all runners have not advanced at least one base, the offense is given the option of taking the result of the play, or enforcing obstruction by awarding the batter first base and advancing all runners, if forced. • If the catcher steps on or in front of home plate without the ball and prevents B from hitting the ball, B is awarded 1st base and all other runners advance 1 base, if forced

With R1 on 2B, the catcher obstructed B2 who hits a fly ball to left field and safely reaches 2B when the throw is made to third base retiring R1 at third base.

With R1 on 2B, the catcher obstructed B2 who hits a fly ball to left field and safely reaches 2B when the throw is made to third base retiring R1 at third base. The obstruction penalty is invoked and the offensive manager has the option of taking the result of the play, or enforcing obstruction by awarding the batter 1st base and returning R1 to 2nd base.

INTERFERENCE If a fair batted ball strikes an umpire or runner OR their attached equipment or clothing, you could have: INTERFERENCE The act of an Offensive Player that impedes, hinders, or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play (e.g. physical contact, verbal distraction, visual distraction, etc.) Contact is not necessary.

A Fair Ball Strikes . . . If a fair batted ball strikes an umpire or runner OR their attached equipment or clothing and:

A Fair Ball Strikes . . . (cont’d) If a fair batted ball strikes the umpire/runner OR their attached equipment or clothing and:

With R1 on 1B, B1 hits a ground ball halfway between 1st and 2nd which hits the runner, after the ball passed the 1st baseman but before it passed the 2nd baseman who could still make a play on the ball.

With R1 on 1B, B hits a ground ball halfway between 1st and 2nd which hits the runner, after the ball passed the 1st baseman but before it passed the 2nd baseman who could still make a play for an out. The ball is dead. The runner is out. The BR is awarded first base. Note: If the 1st baseman had no play on the ball for an out, then the ball is live and play continues.

BR is Out • Put out prior to reaching 1st base • Caught fly ball • Enters the dugout before touching 1st base EXCEPT – Home Run • Runs outside the 3’ lane before 1st base and interferes with the fielder taking a throw at 1st base EXCEPT – When throw coming from foul territory, defense uses orange and BR can use white

B1 hits a ground ball to F4 who throws to F3 in time to retire B1, but B1 crashes into F3 causing F3 to drop the ball.

B1 hits a ground ball to F4 who throws to F3 in time to retire B1, but B1 crashes into F3 causing F3 to drop the ball. B1 is out, since F3 established a catch. Dropping the ball as a result of the contact is something that happened after the out was made.

F3 has control of the ball in their right hand while lying on the ground and touches 1B with their left hand prior to the batter-runner reaching 1B.

F3 has control of the ball in their right hand while lying on the ground and touches 1B with their left hand prior to the batter-runner reaching 1B. The batter-runner is out. Note: If F3 touched the runner with his left hand instead of the base, the runner is safe.

BR is Out BR Interference: • Runs outside the 3 foot lane • Interferes with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball, • Interferes with a fielder attempting to throw a ball, • Gets in the way of a thrown ball while out of the batter’s box, • Makes contact with a fairly batted ball before reaching 1st base, • Discarding their bat in the way of a defensive player. In any of these examples, if the interference is an attempt to prevent a double play, the runner closest to home plate is also called out.

INTERFERENCE BALLISDEAD* OUT RUNNERSRETURN TO BASELAST TOUCHEDAT TIME OFINTERFERENCE. * EXCEPTION: UMPIRE INTERFERENCE IS A DELAYED DEAD BALL

Umpire’s Handling of Interference • Immediate DEAD BALL • Both hands high in the air in front of the body • Interfering Player is ALWAYS OUT • Other players can be out or must return to bases DEAD BALL !!! ASA ASA

Umpire’s Handling of Interference The umpire must determine if the interference occurred before or after the runner who interfered was put out and then apply the appropriate rule. If before: the runner is out and the immediate trailing runner is also out; If after: the runner is out and the runner closest to home is also out. All other runners return to the last base touched at time of interference. DEAD BALL !!! ASA ASA

Umpire’s Handling of Interference Runner interference on a deflected ball Must be deemed intentional The defensive player must have an opportunity to make an OUT Ball is DEAD, runner is OUT, all other runners return. DEAD BALL !!! ASA ASA

B1 hits the ball and it settles in the middle of the plate. F2 throws the ball to 1B and hits B1: • In the left shoulder as B1 is straddling the foul line over fair territory and more than half way to 1B, • On the right shoulder and B1 is completely inside the three foot lane, • In the first thirty feet between home and 1B.

B1 hits the ball and it settles in the middle of the plate. F2 throws the ball to 1B and hits B1: • In the left shoulder as B1 is straddling the foul line over fair territory and more than half way to 1B, • On the right shoulder and B1 is completely inside the three foot lane, • In the first thirty feet between home and 1B. In (a), B1 is out and the ball is dead. In (b) and (c), B1 is not out and the ball remains live.

BR is Out • BR interferes with a play at home, the BR and the runner are both OUT • When the batter-runner steps back toward home plate to avoid or delay a tag by a fielder. • Intentionally dropped ball (unless a fielder actually caught a ball and then dropped it, there is no intentional dropped ball.)

Interference • If a spectator interferes with the defense attempting to catch a fly ball: • Dead ball, • BR is out, and • All runners are awarded the bases they would have reached.

R1 is on 3B. B2 hits a fair ground ball to F3 who fields the ball, and throws to F2 in an attempt to retire R1. The throw hits B2 in the hand which he was waving as a) he is running up the line toward 1B, or b) backing up toward home plate to avoid F3’s tag.

R1 is on 3B. B2 hits a fair ground ball to F3 who fields the ball, and throws to F2 in an attempt to retire R1. The throw hits B2 in the hand which he was waving as a) he is running up the line toward 1B, or b) backing up toward home plate to avoid F3’s tag. • and (b) The ball is dead. This is interference and both B2 and R1 are out. Note: If there were no runner on third, in (b), the ball is dead and B2 is out.

Double 1st Base • When a play is being made on the BR, the defense MUST use the white portion and the BR MUST use the orange portion. • BR is OUT if they only touch the white portion. • The defense and the BR can use either base when: • A play is being made from foul territory, or • An errant throw takes the defense off 1st base into foul territory.

Double 1st Base • When BR is rounding 1st base, they can touch either the white or orange portion. • When R is tagging up, they can touch either the white or orange portion. • If there is a force play at 1st base and BR collides with the defense because they touched only the white portion: • Dead ball, • BR is out, and • All runners must return to the last base occupied at the time of the interference.

Intentionally Dropping the Ball When an infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive that could be caught with ordinary effort with 1st, 1st & 2nd, 1st & 3rd, or bases loaded with 1 or 2 outs . . . • Dead ball. • B is out. • Runners return to their base at the time of the pitch. • Infield fly takes precedence over an intentionally dropped ball.

Touching Bases in Legal Order • When a runner must return to a base, the bases must be touched in reverse order. • Runner is out, if appealed. • Not on a foul ball. • 2 runners cannot occupy the same base. • Runner who first legally occupied the base is entitled, unless forced to advance. • 2nd runner can be tagged by the defense. • If runner is on base when a home run is hit, they DO NOT have to advance; they may go from the base directly to the dugout.

With 2 outs and R1 on 2B, R2 on 1B, B5 hits a double and both R1 and R2 score. R1 misses 3B, but returns to 3B just before an appeal is made.

With 2 outs and R1 on 2B, R2 on 1B, B5 hits a double and both R1 and R2 score. R1 misses 3B, but returns to 3B just before an appeal is made. Since R1 may not return to 3B after a following runner, R2, scores, R1 is out on the appeal and both runs are nullified.

Runners CAN Be Put Out • Thrown ball or fair batted ball not blocked • Caught fly ball • When the ball is live or on awarded bases, the runner fails to touch a base before attempting to make the next base (upon appeal) • After overrunning first base, the runner attempt to continue to second base.

Runners CAN Be Put Out • Live ball: • Hits an umpire or runner AFTER passing a fielder other than the pitcher and no other fielder has the opportunity to make an out, or • Touched by any fielder and the runner did not intentionally interfere with the ball or the fielder attempting to field the ball. • When a live ball becomes lodged in a defensive player’s uniform or equipment

R1 is on 1B and B2 hits a line drive that ricochets off F4’s glove to F9, who catches it. R1 leaves 1B for 2B after F4 touched the ball, but before F9 caught the ball.

R1 is on 1B and B2 hits a line drive that ricochets off F4’s glove to F9, who catches it. R1 leaves 1B for 2B after F4 touched the ball, but before F9 caught the ball. B2 is out on the catch and this is a legal advance by R1.

Runners CAN NOT Be Put Out • Forced to advance because of a walk or dead ball base award • When a fielder without the ball obstructs the progress of an R or BR • If interference occurs after obstruction, the interference trumps the obstruction • Live ball is overthrown or blocked • All runners are awarded 2 bases at the time of the throw • Spectator interference on a fair batted or thrown ball (immediate dead ball)

Obstruction The act of a defensive team member: • Who hinders or impedes a batter from striking at or hitting a pitched ball. • Who, as a fielder, impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running the bases unless the fielder is: 1. In possession of the ball 2. In the act of fielding a batted ball NOTE: Contact is not necessary to impede the progress of the runner.

Obstruction Notes • Occurs by the defense and signaled with delayed dead ball signal. • An obstructed runner may NOT be called out between the 2 bases where obstructed. • If put out prior to reaching the base which would have been reached, a dead ball is called and all runners awarded where they would have obtained without the obstruction, based on judgment of umpire . • A fake tag is a form of obstruction and could be cause for ejection from the game.

OBSTRUCTION • FIELDER MUST BE IN POSSESSION OF THE BALLTO BLOCK A BASE: • As one coach so aptly stated, after this ruling was approved, Rather than teach to block the base, catch the ball, and then apply the tag, I will now have to teach to catch the ball, block the base and then apply the tag. Obstruction should be ruled if the fielder blocks the base without the ball.

Runners CAN NOT Be Put Out When a fielder intentionally contacts or catches a fair batted, thrown, or pitched ball with any part of the uniform or equipment that is detached from its proper place:

Runners CAN NOT Be Put Out • Fielder loses possession of the ball and the ball leaves live ball territory or becomes blocked • All runners are awarded 1 base at the time the ball left live ball territory • If a fair ball: • Bounces over, rolls under, or goes through the fence, • Deflects off a fielder and goes out of play in foul territory, or • Deflects off a runner or umpire and goes out of play in foul territory. Then, dead ball and all runners are awarded 2 bases at the time of the pitch.

Runners CAN NOT Be Put Out • If a fielder UNINTENTIONALLY carries a live ball out of live ball territory: • Dead ball and all runners are awarded 1 base at the time the fielder left live ball territory. • If a fielder INTENTIONALLY carries a live ball out of live ball territory: • Dead ball and all runners are awarded 2 bases at the time the fielder left live ball territory.

With R1 on 3B and R2 on 2B, R1 is caught between 3B and home in a run down on an infield hit by B3. As R1 is attempting to regain 3B, F5 obstructs R1 and then tags R1 out. R2 was standing on 3B at the time of the obstruction.

Fairfax Adult Softball 2011 Umpire Training