TopHat64

R1+R3, 2 outs, 3-2 count. NCAA Rules. R1 runs as soon as the pitcher comes set, and gets into a rundown. R3 breaks home, and the throw to the plate gets away to the backstop. F2 goes to field the ball as R3 is returning to the 3B dugout after scoring. R1 reaches third base on the overthrow, but there is a question as to whether R3 was in the catcher's throwing lane, possibly interfering with the play at third. I called it a no-call because I didn't believe R3 was actually in the throwing lane or hindering the play. My question is if I did actually believe that R3 after scoring actually did (unintentionally) hinder the play, is it cause to call R1 out at third? My best understanding is that from reading the rule: 6-2(i): "If a member of the team at bat (other than a runner) hinders a fielder's attempt to field a thrown ball, the ball is dead, the runner on whom the play is being made shall be declared out and all runners return to the last legally occupied base at the time of the interference." This probably is an out because a runner who has already scored isn't the same as a runner, but he's also not interfering with the attempt to field the thrown ball. He's possibly interfering with the throw itself. Of course, interfering with a thrown ball as an actual runner is usually "that's nothing" unless it's intentional. Any thoughts on this play and whether there's a better rules reference? Thanks.

Seeing there was a bit of a stir, didn't mean to cause offense. Honestly I just misread @jimurrayalterego's post and thought he said the opposite of what he did

No. Runners may physically assist each other as long as they haven't been called out/scored. In this case, sounds like the BR is still live so this play is nothing.

It's not a delayed dead ball, the ball is dead when it leaves the playing field on the home run. In OBR this is nothing, NCAA it might be a warning if anyone crossed the warning track in front of the dugout, NFHS it's nothing unless they crowded HP prematurely (even then just a warning). Under no circumstances is this going to negate the home run or is anyone going to be called out. After a walk-off home run, I as the umpire am seeing all the base touches and hitting the road.

Really tough to say without actually seeing the video. The NFHS rulebook terminology is that BR is out "if any fielder, while holding the ball in the fielder's grasp, touches first base... before the batter-runner touches first base" (8-4-1f). I agree with Velho, it comes down to whether F3 had possession before contact.

NFHS rules. Offensive team pinch-hits for their pitcher. That pinch hitter walks. Offensive HC says that that pinch hitter will be the pitcher next inning. Is he allowed to use a courtesy runner here? I know that courtesy runners must be for the pitcher of record. Does pinch-hitting for the pitcher make that PH the new pitcher of record? Thanks

Wendelstedt mechanic is to point foul as soon as it's touched and then signal "That's a catch" when the catch is completed. If you read that the ball was clearly foul, then U1 should be taking the call from near the out-of-play line (instead of straddling the foul line), and you wouldn't point foul.

I know this isn't scorekeeper empire, but here it goes anyway. R2 only with less than two outs. A fly ball deep to the outfield is caught, R2 tags up and advances to 3B. How is this scored for R2's advancement? It's not a sacrifice fly, as OBR 9.08(d) defines a sacrifice fly as scoring a run. Just a fielder's choice? That's what seems most likely but I wasn't sure. Here's the definition of FC that I think might apply: "The term is also used...to account for the advance of a runner (other than by stolen base or error) while a fielder is attempting to put out another runner." Thanks

Batter lays down a bunt, leaves bat in fair territory, ball hits bat while bat is not moving. I know this play is nothing in baseball under all codes. Does anyone know if there is difference in softball? I looked in the FED book and the rule looked very similar to baseball. I honestly don't know the softball rules as well as I should, do baseball almost exclusively but my assignor needed to cover a 11u game. Thanks for any help as always.

Very weird 10U play I had on an unenclosed field (FED rules). With runners on first and second base, batter hits a fair ground ball down the left-field line. The outfield was playing way in, so it takes a while for F7 to chase it down. The ball rolls under the lawn chairs of several parents who were sitting down the line in live ball territory (yes, I should have told them not to sit there, but hindsight's 20/20). One of them reaches down and grabs the ball before F7 gets there. BR had rounded second base already before the ball got there, so it would have been at least a triple normally. However, I also judged that if the ball hadn't hit the lawn chairs and been stopped there, it probably would've rolled past the fence line into dead ball territory before F7 got there. By 8-3-3(e) then, I only awarded BR second, R1 third and R2 home reasoning that "nullifying" the spectator interference, it would've rolled out of play and so would've been a "ground-rule" double. Was not a fun explanation to offensive head coach. Any advice on this play? Does this award sound correct even though it doesn't really make sense in terms of fairness? Thanks.

To confuse the issue a bit more, are any of these applications different under FED? The reason I ask is because the OBR definition of an infielder has been said, but FED's definition is: "2-13-2: The players who play left field, right field, and center field are outfielders. 2-13-3: The others are infielders." It would seem as though this includes a listed second baseman playing in short right as an infielder, unless you could argue that by 2-13-2, all players who happen to be in left, center, or right field are defined as outfielders, regardless of how many of them there happen to be. Any thoughts?

Is there a restriction on how many batters the offensive team may have warming up on the field between innings? Would appreciate all codes but mostly FED. Thanks

Warning is right for the first comment, clearly an ejection (personal) for an adult rec player saying "you suck"

Yes

I know this is a topic you could probably write a novel on, but does anyone have some good advice on where to draw the line for balks at lower levels (10U-13U)? Obviously you don't want to call a balk on every other pitch, but you don't want to let everything go (not coming set, clear attempts to deceive). But you also want to stay consistent, right? Any help would be greatly appreciated.