OIACP: Infield Fly, Batted Ball Contacts Runner

[MadMax]

Alright guys, this is one of those Once In A Career Plays (OIACP), hence the prefix. I need your help with it. This actually happened, verified with real feedback (from the players involved) and video. I can't present the video, because it is during an active league season.

Situation: OBR (with unrelated College rule exceptions), 3-man crew, Green (Visitor) vs. Blue (Home), Top of the 7th, Bases loaded, 1 Out

Towering pop fly to the area of 1B. PU and U1 both signal (and PU calls) Infield Fly If Fair. F3 drifts into Foul territory, then back Fair, then back Foul, then adjusts at the last moment to lunge at the ball... which plummets to land directly on the back of R1's helmeted head. U1 (in conference post-play) and video review (post-game) both confirm that R1 was in contact with 1B, and did not interfere with F3. U1 comes up with a "that's nothing (Safe)" mechanic, judging both the lack of Interference and that the ball wasn't caught. PU, seeing that the ball first touched a Runner, comes up (big) with "Time!". U1 and PU quick consult (yes, U3 was included), and verify that R1 was in contact with the bag, thus, by rule, is protected in the specific case of Infield Fly. Batter is Out on Infield Fly, the ball is Dead, and all Runners remain at their bases. This information / ruling is conveyed to both Green and Blue managers. Neither one argued; both accepted. Next batter, 2 Outs, Bases loaded, and... "Play!"

The next day, PU hears that he booted the call, that the ball remains Live. When discussed, the situation and actions during the play have been morphed to become that the ball hit the F3's glove, and then fell upon R1 (which it did not, according to U1, video, and in casual questions of both Blue F3 and Green R1 the following day). Green Manager is adamant that the crew "killed that play", and got it wrong, as he has consulted "a whole bunch of guys". He's looking to get R3 to score out of the play.

So, was PU correct to call the ball Dead upon first touch by a Runner? Or, does the ball remain Live despite it?

[Jimurray]

15 minutes ago, MadMax said:

Alright guys, this is one of those Once In A Career Plays (OIACP), hence the prefix. I need your help with it. This actually happened, verified with real feedback (from the players involved) and video. I can't present the video, because it is during an active league season.

Situation: OBR (with unrelated College rule exceptions), 3-man crew, Green (Visitor) vs. Blue (Home), Top of the 7th, Bases loaded, 1 Out

Towering pop fly to the area of 1B. PU and U1 both signal (and PU calls) Infield Fly If Fair. F3 drifts into Foul territory, then back Fair, then back Foul, then adjusts at the last moment to lunge at the ball... which plummets to land directly on the back of R1's helmeted head. U1 (in conference post-play) and video review (post-game) both confirm that R1 was in contact with 1B, and did not interfere with F3. U1 comes up with a "that's nothing (Safe)" mechanic, judging both the lack of Interference and that the ball wasn't caught. PU, seeing that the ball first touched a Runner, comes up (big) with "Time!". U1 and PU quick consult (yes, U3 was included), and verify that R1 was in contact with the bag, thus, by rule, is protected in the specific case of Infield Fly. Batter is Out on Infield Fly, the ball is Dead, and all Runners remain at their bases. This information / ruling is conveyed to both Green and Blue managers. Neither one argued; both accepted. Next batter, 2 Outs, Bases loaded, and... "Play!"

The next day, PU hears that he booted the call, that the ball remains Live. When discussed, the situation and actions during the play have been morphed to become that the ball hit the F3's glove, and then fell upon R1 (which it did not, according to U1, video, and in casual questions of both Blue F3 and Green R1 the following day). Green Manager is adamant that the crew "killed that play", and got it wrong, as he has consulted "a whole bunch of guys". He's looking to get R3 to score out of the play.

So, was PU correct to call the ball Dead upon first touch by a Runner? Or, does the ball remain Live despite it?

It would stay live if the ball was judged to have gone thru or by F3 untouched and F4 did not have a play on the ball, in the air or not. If touched by F3 it would stay live. In MLB they would almost always judge F4 had a play unless he was playing in. In the OP, if not touched by F3, most of us would judge that F4 had a play and thus the ball would be dead. I bolded what I think applies:

"5.09(b)(7) He is touched by a fair ball in fair territory before the ball has gone through, or by, an infielder and no other in - fielder has a chance to make a play on the ball. The ball is dead and no runner may score, nor runners advance, except runners forced to advance. EXCEPTION: If a runner is touching his base when touched by an Infield Fly, he is not out, although the batter is out;

Rule 5.09(b)(7) Comment: If two runners are touched by the same fair ball, only the first one is out because the ball is instantly dead.

If a runner is touched by an Infield Fly when he is not touching his base, and before the ball has gone through, or by, an infielder, and no other infielder has a chance to make a play on the ball, both the runner and batter are out. Regardless of whether a runner is touching his base or not when touched by an Infield Fly before the ball has gone through, or by, an infielder and no other infielder has a chance to make a play on the ball, the ball is dead and no runner may score, nor runners advance, except runners forced to advance."