Who has right of way

[Eightpoint]

When a right handed (catches with left hand) first basemen catches a ball thrown from F5 or F6 on the home plate side of first base (while holding the bag) in the base path and there is an eminent collision with R1 either checking up to avoid a collision thus not beating out the throw or actual collision what is the call? Does F3 have to make an effort to catch the ball in front of the base path to avoid the batter runner?

There was only the single caulk line and the batter runner was on the foul side of the line running straight towards the first base.

[noumpere]

The rules code might make a difference, but this is usually a train wreck.

[JonnyCat]

IMO, outside of professional baseball, this is more than likely obstruction. Rule-sets such as High School and Little League, don't have an "in the act of fielding" provision in their definitions of obstruction. Most of the time, in youth baseball and HS, the fielder needs to be in possession of the ball in order to impede the runner.

It does matter the rule-set, so please specify what rules you are working under. 

[Eightpoint]

NFHS for scholastic baseball.

With that said, this was a 7-8 grade middle school game so there was a fair amount of sloppy baseball.

 

[wolfe_man]

*

[Velho]

Though OP BR (accidentally called R1 I think) sounds fine, RLI also a consideration in this type of play.

As imagine the OP in a way that's so bad the question had to be asked...

F3 is standing/stretching towards home plate instead of 3B. Easy to get OBS on that, particularly if F3 set up that way and never moved.

If that's accurate, sloppy indeed. Coach has work to do. I've never something this egregious even at 10U.

--> Double base cures this 😉

[Eightpoint]

The first base coach was looking for obstruction since his batter/runner had to check up about three - four  steps from the bag as the batter / runner saw F3 ( who was a tall leggy kid for his age) stretch down the first base line to catch the ball while holding the bag. F3 IMO did not prematurely stretch that way without the ball and only did so with the trajectory of the throw and second or two prior to catching the ball.

I agree with the safety bag idea for 16U and under... Way too much sloppy baseball even at 16U.

[noumpere]

1 hour ago, noumpere said:

The rules code might make a difference, but this is usually a train wreck.

I should add it also depends on the timing -- OP said (or I read into it) that there was a catch and then a collision.

[Velho]

11 minutes ago, Eightpoint said:

I agree with the safety bag idea for 16U and under... Way too much sloppy baseball even at 16U.

I'm not a zealot about it but find it interesting. SEC just did for their league tournament. Didn't hear anything about the experiment one way or the other (pagan @johnnyg08)

[Velho]

12 minutes ago, Eightpoint said:

The first base coach was looking for obstruction

Of course he was 🙄

13 minutes ago, Eightpoint said:

since his batter/runner had to check up about three - four  steps from the bag as the batter / runner saw F3 ( who was a tall leggy kid for his age) stretch down the first base line to catch the ball while holding the bag.

That's OBS in NFHS (and LL). More judgement / less likely to be so in NCAA or OBR but HTBT.

12 minutes ago, Eightpoint said:

F3 IMO did not prematurely stretch that way without the ball and only did so with the trajectory of the throw and second or two prior to catching the ball.

Doesn't matter in NFHS (or LL). As noted above by folks, there isn't an "in the act of fielding a throw" provision to protect the defense like there is in NCAA and OBR.