Crazy Play

[Guest Matt]

Doubt you'll ever see it, but an interesting situation to be sure. Maybe you can help settle an argument amongst friends.

 

OBR

 

Bases loaded, one out...

 

Pitcher balks and pitches the ball... Catcher's interference occurs on the swing, and the ball is popped to right field, and caught. R2 and R3 legally tag. R1 is off on contact. R1 is obstructed by F3 en route to 2nd, and subsequently misses 2nd, though not as a result of the obstruction. The ball is thrown back into first to attempt to double up R1, but the ball is overthrown out of play.

 

My opinion: Award the overthrow. R2 and R3 to score. R1 to score unless he goes back to legally tag, in which case the award is changed to 3rd. After awarding the overthrown, award the CI... BR to 1st, R1 to 2nd, R2 to 3rd, R3 to score... Manager may then take the results of the play, in which case BR is out, R2 and R3 scores, and R1 is awarded 3rd or to score. If R1 never tagged or didn't touch 2nd on his last time by, he may be appealed for the 3rd out, but two runs score.

 

Friends opinion: Call time as soon as the ball is caught because of the balk. Then enforce the balk. R3 to score, R2 to 3rd, R1 to 2nd. Then, because not all runners including the BR advanced one base, award the BR 1st on the CI.

 

What is your opinion, and if at all possible, what is your rule support?

 

TIA!

[noumpere]

 

 

 

 

 

So your discussion with the coach is limited to whether he wants the play or the CI?  No mention of how the balk will effect everything?

 

 

Mine is, at least until they ask about it.

 

And, at HS and lower, I'm asking "Play or penalty?"

 

In summer college, I'm also asking.

 

 

For HS it won't matter because a balk is an immediate dead ball.

 

I agree for the OP.  I was speaking in general on CI.

[Guest bigblue2u]

Take a look at all the responses to this play and ask yourself why, in high school baseball, a balk is an immediate dead ball!