Trapped ball call

[dmdhiker]

My first question here. Had a situation in a hs freshman game working solo. During pregame, HC details some gaps under the outfield fence where a ball can get trapped or roll through. If this happens, outfielder raises hands to indicate an unplayable ball, and ground rule double would be called. In a close game and bases loaded, the VT batter gapped a ball between right and center and goes to the fence. F9 gets to the area and raises hands. I call dead ball, put batter at second and returned a scored run to third. The VC went ballistic, said I blew the call, in other similar situations the runners would continue running and the PU would go out to verify the trapped ball. I let the coach express his misgivings on my call, then said thats enough, lets play ball. Play continued. I emailed my assignor about the situation. He stated I should definitely have keep the runners going and run out to see if it is indeed trapped, even with one ump. Told me to learn from it and move on. I described the situation to a new mentor ump, who is also on the rules committee, and he said I made the right call. Stated that the play is based on the sportsmanship of the player calling a trapped ball. As I was going to my car between games, yes a double, a parent and former umpire told me he saw the outfielder moved the ball a few inches to where it was trapped. Got played by a freshman. Thanks for listening and thoughts please.

[umpcoachfather]

You call the dead ball, stop the runners, award as neccesary and go out to check? What happens if it wasnt OOP? The mentor is right, the assigner is wrong, what if they pick it up and throw home now your in the outfield grass and making a call at the plate? too many things can go wrong. Stick with what was mentioned during the plate meeting.

[dmdhiker]

I think the logic behind continuing the play is that if the ball is indeed trapped you can always return the runners to the appropriate bases, but if the ball is not lodged in the fence, the player, and thus his team, is the one being penalized for not playing a playable ball by letting the runners round the bases without a play.

[noumpere]

The hands up is just a call fro the umpire to come out and shows everyone that the fielder hasnt moved it at least with his hands. So let the runners run and go out to look. If you see its lodged or out of play then return the runners. Its alot easier to return them than it is to send them forward.

[dmdhiker]

This makes sense to me. My blown call probably cost their team a win. It still bothers me, but as my assignor said "blow it off, learn from it, and go out and nail your next game". Good advise. What's interesting is the different call suggested by my mentor. It is no wonder why a newbie feels a bit overwhelmed with all the different interpretations of the rules.

[cyclonehokiece]

This makes sense to me. My blown call probably cost their team a win. It still bothers me, but as my assignor said "blow it off, learn from it, and go out and nail your next game". Good advise.

Just take that to heart and learn.

[dmdhiker]

This error will not be repeated, lesson learned. One more thought. F9 picked up the ball and threw it in after I called dead ball. Should it be made clear in the pregame that if a player raises his hands that he not touch the ball so I can make a ruling on lodged or not?...and I realize it is "lodged ball" not "trapped ball" which is something different, right? Or is it OOP?

[Fittske24]

In HS games during the ground rules, if a coach says he has some places in the outfield where a baseball can become trapped, I tell both coaches to keep their players moving and have their fielders raise their hands and an umpire will come check it out. If trapped, we will place runners as needed.

[UMP45]

Fitt, We also tell them to tell they're players not to go after it. If they do it's "run rabbit run"! :wave:

[dmdhiker]

Thanks everyone for your input. Just got back from a hs freshman DH and during the plate meeting the home coach noted a gate in the fence in dead center where a ball can get trapped. It was about 450 feet away and wouldn't come into play but I want to get in the habit of clearly stating trapped ball instructions before the game. I instructed both coaches that if this happens players raise hands, keep their runners moving and I'll go out to check. I left for the games before ump45s' post or I probably would have also given the don't touch the trapped ball point. For clarity sake, what if I go out and the ball is just against the fence but not trapped? It seems that I would not call a dead ball and let the runners run until all score. Fielder bad for not playing a playable ball and giving trapped sign when it wasn't. Hope I'm right.

[UMP45]

dmd, You don't kill it until ALL playing action has stopped.If the runners stop on their on thats on them. Once you have called time then go check.

[dmdhiker]

More unsure about the mechanics on this than ever. Can someone help a slow newbie. Working one-man HS freshman game and runners on, ball gapped to the outfield fence, player raises hands for trapped ball, doesn't touch ball thereafter. As runners are circling the bases, when do you go out (when hands raised?), when do you call time? Sorry if I'm missing something, but I'm just not clear.

[noumpere]

More unsure about the mechanics on this than ever. Can someone help a slow newbie. Working one-man HS freshman game and runners on, ball gapped to the outfield fence, player raises hands for trapped ball, doesn't touch ball thereafter. As runners are circling the bases, when do you go out (when hands raised?), when do you call time? Sorry if I'm missing something, but I'm just not clear.

You can either watch all the runners touch the bases and then go out or go oout while they are still running. For me I always started out when the hands went up and watched the bases being touched as best as I could. If there was ever an appeal, and there wasn't, I would deny it because no one could gain an advantege by missing a base during such a situation.

[johnnyg08]

Remember this forever. The players do not stop the play. The umpire does. Just b/c little Johnny puts his hands in the air indicating a lodged or OOP ball, let the runners circle the bases, run out there and return the runners. It takes some time, but then you know you got it right for sure.