Interference or not?

[noumpere]

if fielder has big trouble handling the ball because of the runner, we have INT.

I don't think you can wait to see if the fielder has trouble fielding the ball before deciding if this is interference. The potentila interference happens prior to the ball getting to the fielder. It's either interference or not at that point, regardless of what the fielder does after.

[mstaylor]

I don't think you can wait to see if the fielder has trouble fielding the ball before deciding if this is interference. The potentila interference happens prior to the ball getting to the fielder. It's either interference or not at that point, regardless of what the fielder does after.

You are exactly right. It's interference before the ball gets to the fielder. If you have it, kill it, call the runner out and award BR first. Many times this happens as the BU is turning with the ball so the call has to come from the plate. Unfortunately many believe the PU should stay out of it. This is completely wrong, he sees the whole play unfold, the BU only gets a portion.

[Finnblue]

You are exactly right. It's interference before the ball gets to the fielder. If you have it, kill it, call the runner out and award BR first. Many times this happens as the BU is turning with the ball so the call has to come from the plate. Unfortunately many believe the PU should stay out of it. This is completely wrong, he sees the whole play unfold, the BU only gets a portion.

That's excactly what happened, U2 was not able to see it. I should have reacted much faster, but - as always when something surprising happens first time - I hesitated. Still we got it right.

MS

[mstaylor]

I was managing a 13/14 Pony team a couple of years ago and the opposing runner stopped in front of the SS until the ball got there and then took off. I imediately asked about an interference call. The BU said he was waiting to see if the SS made the play, which he did. I told him it made no difference, that he should kill it right away and call the out. The next inning the crew got something else wrong and I questioned that. The crew were first year HS umps, been LL coaches and umps for years but no traing, and they were unsure of themselves. The opposing manager complained I was running the crew instead of them. Then the PU made a huge mistake and said,"He knows the rules a lot better than I do." I had to walk to right field.

[widac]

Those are great pics. I can't get over that mound you use. You get a lot of F1's tripping over that thing playing defense?

[Finnblue]

Not so much. First we thought that we will get lot's of hurt legs after flies over infield, but no, so far no accidents from tripping over. Once F1 nearly hurt his foot when he got stuck in the carpet.

Today was game two, 12-9 to challenger, Icebreakers, games are now 1-1.

MS

[Umpire in Chief]

I've never seen an artificial mound for adults, but I have for kids. I haven't seen any players trip and fall, but I heard of an umpire (Sundevil71) working a 1st to 3rd play and practically did a back flip over one.

[mstaylor]

Why would you trip over a portable mound any faster than a dirt one?

[widac]

Did you look at the pics?

[Umpire in Chief]

Why would you trip over a portable mound any faster than a dirt one?

Some do not have smooth sides just an instant 10" drop off.

[Finnblue]

Some do not have smooth sides just an instant 10" drop off.

Like ours, only one smooth side, towards home, naturally.

MS

[mstaylor]

I have since looked at the pics. All the temps mounds I have dealt with were just like regular mounds except they have astro turf on them. They are still round so you wouldn't trip over them.

[BT_Blue]

I have since looked at the pics. All the temps mounds I have dealt with were just like regular mounds except they have astro turf on them. They are still round so you wouldn't trip over them.

For the most part I agree that the fake mounds I have seen are round and slopped like a normal mound. However, this year I worked a Pony league that used softball fields for Mustang, Pinto and Bronco. So they had to nail in a false mound every game... this one was slopped like a normal mound upfront but had a dramatic falloff to the back and side.