Ground Ruled Double

[Guest Juan]

Our PONY field is a pretty big field with A LOT of dead grass. Balls get out to the gaps pretty quickly and go over the hill in left center field. We have always called a ball that goes over a double (home run if it reaches on a fly). However, a coach said that it is up to the umpires discretion to award bases. The field is big, so it is not uncommon for a player to be rounding 2nd when the ball finally gets out of play. Is he right or is any ball that goes out of play like that a double?

[pnewton]

A fair ball rolls out of play, it's a two base award - no judgement.

[Ump29]

Local ground rules may apply. Is "over the hill" considered out of play ? If so, then this may be a double even if something just short of this may in normal circumstances be a triple.

[Jocko]

Ground rules CANNOT supercede the rule book. BY RULE. Any batted ball that goes out of play fair and untouched is a two base award. Period.

OBR 3.13

NFHS 4-1-2

[Ump29]

The ground rule I would be referring to would be where was out of play.

[Jocko]

a coach said

I rest my case

[noumpere]

Your local league should develop league and ground rules for that park.  And even though it would offend the OBR purists, I'd have no problem with making it a "league rule triple" if appropriate for that field (which I assume does not have an outfield fence).