Advanced Runner on out of play

[Guest Charlie]

Runners on second and third with one out. Batter strikes out but catcher drops the ball. Catcher throws to first to complete the strike out. Runner on 3rd breaks for home on the throw to first. Runner on second breaks to third when runner on third broke for home.

 

First baseman throws home. Ball hits either runner or catcher (runner did not slide so it was hard to tell) so ball, runner, and catcher arrived at same time. Ball bounces away a couple of feet. Then runner kicks ball out of play due to his momentum a few steps later. It was unintentional.

 

Runner that advanced to third was then awarded home. Is that the correct ruling?

[Birdieseeker]

I'm thinking by your description of the play it's the second play on the infield so it's a time of throw award with the ball going into DBT. R2 is awarded home.

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[Birdieseeker]

I should have been more clear, the award it 2 bases from time of throw. R2 is awarded the plate

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[grayhawk]

I think he is asking whether or not an award should be made or if interference should be called.  As described, I do not have interference.  The defense misplayed the ball and the runner who just scored inadvertently kicked it.  I agree with @Birdieseeker on the award - 2 bases TOT.  Score R2.

[maven]

As described, I do not have interference.  The defense misplayed the ball and the runner who just scored inadvertently kicked it.  I agree with @Birdieseeker on the award - 2 bases TOT.  Score R2.

 

This.

[Birdieseeker]

If that's what the OP is asking then I am in agreement with grayhawk. I do not have interference here unless there is some local must slide at the plate rule

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[umpcoachfather]

Did he rule the ball out because it was kicked?  You sure it was kicked?  what happened to R3?  Sounds to me like the D missplayed the ball and it went Out of Play - 2 bases.  Interseted to know more detail about the plate with no slide and collision. 

[Guest Charlie]

The league does have a have must slide for a play at the plate rule and the runner should have been ruled out but was not. Had the runner slid none of the events would have taken place. But then we wouldn't have anything to discuss.

 

I was more curious about the offensive team kicking the ball out of bounds and being rewarded for it. I understand if the defense threw the ball and it ricocheted out of play bases should be awarded but thought the offensive player kicking it would have created a dead ball situation. The play obviously happened quickly so the ball may not have come to a rest after hitting runner/catcher. It may have been on a bounce but a few feet away from the play.

 

To answer umpcoachfather's question, the ball was absolutely kicked and umpire stated that as well. But said the ball going out of play requires awarding of bases. R2 was awarded home so both runners scored.

 

The question was should R2 be awarded home. Sounds from the responses as though the correct call was made regarding awarding the bases. 

 

Thanks for the replies

[grayhawk]

The league does have a have must slide for a play at the plate rule and the runner should have been ruled out but was not.

 

Are you 100% sure of this?  I can't tell you how many times a coach or parent has said that a runner must slide even though not one single league I have ever umpired for required it.

[Guest Charlie]

Yes, positively sure. They review it at each year with the coaches and is covered each game at the ground rules meeting before every game. They must slide at any base that a play is occurring that a possible collision could take place (exception is first base as fielder should not be blocking the base on a typical ground ball). League is very safety conscience.

 

I was intrigued by the kicking of the ball and awarding bases and had never run across that situation before. Now I have it for future reference if a similar play occurs.

 

 

 

 

[grayhawk]

Must slide rules are anything but "safety conscious."

[Guest Charlie]

Agreed

[Larry in TN]

I was intrigued by the kicking of the ball and awarding bases and had never run across that situation before. Now I have it for future reference if a similar play occurs.

 

The alternative is to rule interference on the runner for kicking the ball.  Rule 7.08(b) would apply and that requires intent to interfere when it is a thrown ball.  Intent in not required when it is a batted ball.

 

7.08 -- Any runner is out when -- 

(b) He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball;

Rule 7.08(b) Comment: A runner who is adjudged to have hindered a fielder who is attempting to make a play on a batted ball is out whether it was intentional or not.

The interesting aspect here is that the ball wasn't thrown into DBT but was unintentionally kicked there by the runner.  The award is addressed in 7.05(g) which doesn't make any applicable distinction.  It would seem as though in order to avoid the award the unintentional kick would have to change the ball's status to something other than "a thrown ball".  I'm not aware of any rules which would do that.

 

7.05 -- Each runner including the batter-runner may, without liability to be put out, advance -- 

(g) Two bases when, with no spectators on the playing field, a thrown ball goes into the stands, or into a bench (whether or not the ball rebounds into the field), or over or under or through a field fence, or on a slanting part of the screen above the backstop, or remains in the meshes of a wire screen protecting spectators. The ball is dead. When such wild throw is the first play by an infielder, the umpire, in awarding such bases, shall be governed by the position of the runners at the time the ball was pitched; in all other cases the umpire shall be governed by the position of the runners at the time the wild throw was made;