D- Money

R3 slipped to the ground about halfway between home and third. She was almost to home when forced to retreat towards third. R2 was the only runner near third.. Remember that BU is on the outside in the "C" position. F2 and F5 were boxing R3 in her attempt to score. F6 and F4 boxing R2 in her attempt for 3rd.

14u USSSA fastpitch. 2 man No outs, runners R2 on second, R3 on third. Batter grounds to drawn in F5 who quickly retires BR at 1st. F3 throws to F2 catching R3 in a rundown. F2 runs R3 back towards 3rd base. R2 attempts to advance to 3rd as well but stops just short of the bag. R3 slips in the basepath and F2 attempts to tag fallen runner but misses the tag, barely. Then she unsucessfully attempts to retire F2 at third. PU makes no signal and no verbalization. BU calls R2 safe at 3rd. R3 abandons attempt and returns to dugout and is called out entering gate. Should PU have signaled " safe" or called " no tag" to remove confusion? I think that this case applies to most, if not all ball. I know the mechanics on a missed tag and missed base differ in codes, but what happens in a rundown between bases?

That's a great perspective! Thanks

I thought that part of the balk rule prohibited the simulation of the start of the pitching motion, or the start of the step toward the plate (and then stepping toward a base) was to prevent deception to the runner(s).

That's what I was able to find out from the rule books that you mentioned. However I'm still not clear about the issue of decieving the runner. That's the balk concern I mentioned in the second part of the question.

OBL rules. While throwing warm up pitches between innings the pitcher threw two pitches from the mound towards the plate behind his back. The catcher indicated that he had done it occasionally during games. Pitching to the first batter with a 1-2 count he throws the next pitch behind his back for ball 2. Is this legal? Is it a balk with runners?

Taking the last part of the citation above "Failing to move so F2 can make a throw is not batter interference" and applying it to the question asked about the runner trying to steal home leads me to ask. Failing to move so F2 can make a tag. Interference or not? Can the batter just stand there, holding his position, and interfere?

Hey guys, thanks for the replys and the discussion. I had believed that the decision was based on judgment of the variables associated with the play. I was doing a one man 14u fall ball game and unfortunately missed the contact while attempting to get into position on the third base side of the mound ,( my bad ). My initial move was to expect a close play if the runner tried for third. Since no bodies went flying I couldn't be sure that the contact was enough to award the base. Thanks again

B1 hits a deep ball past F9. While rounding 1st base, he gets momentarily tangled up with F1. Continuing to 2nd, he is held up by the 3rd base coach a few strides after touching the 2nd base bag. The coach at third wants a base award based on obstruction, moving the runner to third. If the runner passes 2nd base, is he "attempting to reach 3rd"? Or does he have to continue to the 3rd base bag?

Ball was in his pitching hand by his side. This was a step off move before the pitcher was in the set position. I didn't balk him but the offence argued that the pitcher moved his arm first. I don't think that its a balk at that point either. I've seen lots of pitchers start to come up to set their hands but step off quickly. Sometimes backward to feint and sometimes a hop step to throw over to 1st. Thanks guys!

Runner on first. RH Pitcher taking signs with ball in pitching hand. Prior to moving to a set position. Moves to step backwards and raise pitching hand simultaniously to fake runner back to first. Is this a balk?

With two strikes the batter checked(?) his swing on a pitch that bounced just before being caught.PU pointed to U1 in "A" and asked Did he go?. U1 immediately answered yes and signalled strike with his right arm. Is the next move by PU a safe signal?

What's the signal (s) and in what order for the plate ump? And the field ump?