Pitch lodged in backstop

[FleasOf1000Camels]

OBR, R2 and R3, count is 3-1, no outs.

Pitch skips in front of plate, glances off F2's helmet and goes to the screen.  I glance at R3, he's NOT coming (he's a BIG, slow kid).  I now turn to look for ball, F2 is looking back and forth, he can't find the ball.  Fans are screaming and pointing.  The ball is wedged in the chain link backstop, right behind the plate about 7-8 feet above the ground.

As far as I was concerned, that ball was no different that if it had gone through a hole in the backstop.  I killed play, had a brief talk with partner, and awarded both runners one base...plus sent the batter to first as it was ball 4.

DC was not pleased.  His main problem with the call was that R3 was not attempting to advance.

Any thoughts?

[Richvee]

You got it right. Over/through/under/wedged. All the same.

[noumpere]

11 hours ago, FleasOf1000Camels said:

As far as I was concerned, that ball was no different that if it had gone through a hole in the backstop.  I killed play, had a brief talk with partner, and awarded both runners one base...plus sent the batter to first as it was ball 4.

DC was not pleased.  His main problem with the call was that R3 was not attempting to advance.

Any thoughts?

Why did you talk to your partner?

 

If gravity doesn't (nearly immediately) release the ball from the fence, it's lodged and out of play.  Award bases.

[FleasOf1000Camels]

Elimination game, DC is also an umpire (in fact we worked s HS game together last week)...I knew his rules knowledge was probably equal to mine, but that he was going to be upset.  I wanted to be sure my partner was on board if/when stuff hit the fan.

When DC complained, my explanation was simple.  "Skip, we've all been on fields where pitches can go through holes in backstops.  If that had happened, you wouldn't even be questioning the award.  Over, under, through or lodged...it's all the same." 

He told me after the inning that he knew I was correct, but thought it was a crappy way to give up a run. 

[udbrky]

He knows that's not necessary. Is he just frustrated then?

[scrounge]

3 hours ago, FleasOf1000Camels said:

He told me after the inning that he knew I was correct, but thought it was a crappy way to give up a run. 

Then perhaps he should have his pitcher not bounce a ball way out in front of the plate, cause that's who gave up the run. Play better next time. Easy solution, no umpire involvement needed.

[urout17]

DC wasn't an umpire on this day so I wouldn't treat him as one.   "He told me after the inning that he knew I was correct, but thought it was a crappy way to give up a run."  Spoken like a true coach.

You made the correct call.

[ZOOX]

Runner need not be attempting to advance to be awarded a base (in this case, R3 being awarded home).  Base award is a PEN, which is being enforced, like a balk.  Would that same coach/ump question you if you awarded R3 and R2 one base if F1 had balked, even when they weren't attempting to advance?

[LRZ]

"PEN"?

[ALStripes17]

"PEN"?

Penalty

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