Play at the plate

[ZebraStripes]

In a "baseball" game last night I had R3 and R2, 1 out, and I forget the count on the batter but it is irrelevant for the discussion.  Pitch in the dirt for a ball gets by the F2.  F1 comes in and stand at the front corner of the plate.  The rear two thirds of the plate are open and that is where the runner is sliding towards.  F2 comes back into the play with the ball and is next to F1 and tags R3 trying to score.  The ball went to the right so I ended up in 1BX and clearly saw the tag before R3 touched the plate.  VTHC comes out to argue that the plate was blocked and that it should have been obstruction.

 

Given the above description, is there a valid case to be made for obstruction on F1?

 

After that half inning he came back to me to say that video showed  blah blah blah blah ( I think he was saying that between the two players, there was no opening for R3 to access the plate once F2 got back with the ball.

This was 10u based off USSSA rules if not covered in the local rule book and obstruction is not mentioned in it.  Does OBR 7.07 address this with 7.07
If, with a runner on third base and trying to score by means of a squeeze play or a steal, the catcher or any other fielder steps on, or in front of home base without possession of the ball, or touches the batter or his bat, the pitcher shall be charged with a balk, the batter shall be awarded first base on the interference and the ball is dead.

 

The F1 had maybe a third of the plate covered while waiting for the ball (that was never thrown)

 

What do you have?

[BuckeyeMike]

If, with a runner on third base and trying to score by means of a squeeze play or a steal, the catcher or any other fielder steps on, or in front of home base without possession of the ball, or touches the batter or his bat, the pitcher shall be charged with a balk, the batter shall be awarded first base on the interference and the ball is dead.

 

​As I understand it, ^^This^^ is referring to the incoming pitch, hence the balk call on the pitcher. 

F1 blocking 1/3 of the plate is not OBS.

F2 blocking the plate WITH POSSESSION of the ball, is not OBS. 

Sounds like you were in a good position and made the correct call (and not ruling OBS). 

[maven]

OBS is defined in terms of a player without the ball. How could you have OBS if F2, blocking the plate, had the ball?

The fact that F1 was also there is immaterial unless he completely blocked the plate by himself and without the ball.

[ZebraStripes]

Thanks guys, My explanation to the coach was that I did not have obstruction on the pitcher because he was only covering a small portion of the plate, thus leaving the back half of the plate open until the catcher came to close that area off with the ball and all before the runner got to the plate. with the slide.  I was still shocked that he didn't throw the ball, but it's a moot point when they got the out.