P>Many rules and play questions have been received since the
April 2007 Rules Clarifications and Plays web posting. Some of
the questions have provoked much thought and lively
discussion. From the questions received the following five
topics with plays in some cases - are provided for
information, to clarify a rule, and / or to clean up any
misconceptions or misinformation. Additionally, a correction
to the Official Rules of Softball is also provided.
Error in Rule Book
Pitching Distances
In the March Edition of the Rules Clarifications and Plays
web posting, information was provided to correct errors in the
OFFICIAL DISTANCE TABLE found in Rule 2, Section 1, page 61,
pertaining to the G14U, G16U and G16U B Divisions. That
information remains valid, but it is not complete. When the
table was reviewed further, it was discovered that other
information, primarily dealing with the JO Boys portion of the
OFFICIAL DISTANCE TABLE, was omitted or needed correcting. The
JO portion of the OFFICIAL DISTANCE TABLE should read as
follows:
Printable version of following table
Division
 |
Bases |
Pitching |
Min. Fence |
Max. Fence |
FAST PITCH |
| G10-U |
60' |
35' |
175' |
225' |
| G12-U |
60' |
40' |
200' |
225' |
| G14-U |
60' |
40' |
200' |
225' |
| G16-U |
60' |
40' |
200' |
225' |
| G18-U |
60' |
40' |
200' |
225' |
| G18-U GOLD |
60' |
43' |
200' |
225' |
| B10-U |
60' |
35' |
150' |
175' |
| B12-U |
60' |
40' |
175' |
200' |
| B14-U |
60' |
46' |
175' |
200' |
| B16-U |
60' |
46' |
200' |
225' |
| B18-U |
60' |
46' |
225' |
250' |
 |
SLOW PITCH |
| G10-U |
60' |
40' |
175' |
200' |
| G12-U |
60' |
46' |
175' |
200' |
| G14-U |
60' |
50' |
225' |
250' |
| G16-U |
60' |
50' |
225' |
250' |
| G18-U |
60' |
50' |
225' |
250' |
| B10-U |
60' |
40' |
200' |
225' |
| B12-U |
60' |
46' |
225' |
250' |
| B14-U |
65' |
50' |
275' |
300' |
| B16-U |
65' |
50' |
275' |
300' |
| B18-U |
65' |
50' |
275' |
300' |
Please replace the existing JO portion of the OFFICIAL
DISTANCE TABLE with the table above, and ensure that all local
associations have the information.
Batter-Runner
Obstructed between Home Plate and First Base
When the batter-runner is obstructed between home plate and
first base on a fly ball that is caught, two rules are in
conflict for the umpire responsible for making a call. First,
Rule 8, Section 2 C states that the batter-runner is out if a
fly ball is caught by a fielder before it touches the ground,
any object or person other than a defensive player. The second
rule is Rule 8, Section 5 B, EXCEPTION 1 which states that an
obstructed runner may not be called out between the two bases
they were obstructed and EXCEPTION 2 which states that if
obstruction occurs, the umpire shall award the runner or
batter-runner the base or bases they would have reached, in
the umpire's judgment, had there been no obstruction. In the
case of a fly ball that is caught, the batter-runner could not
have reached first base and there is no provision in our rules
that permit the batter to return to home plate and bat again.
Rule 8, Section 1 D, also known as Catcher's Obstruction, does
not apply in this situation. This rule refers to the catcher
obstructing the batter's attempt to hit a pitched ball.
Therefore, the interpretation for this situation is that the
out stands on the fly ball that is caught and the obstruction
is ignored. Remember, this only applies to a fly ball that
is caught. If the fly ball is not caught, or the batter
hits a ground ball and the batter-runner is obstructed between
home plate and first base, the batter-runner should be
protected at least to first base.
Play 1: B1 hits a fly ball to the outfield where F9
catches the ball for the first out. While B1 was leaving the
plate area, F2 tripped B1 causing B1 to fall to the
ground.
Ruling: The umpire should signal delayed dead ball
and call obstruction" when the obstruction occurs. When F9
catches the fly ball for the out the umpire should ignore the
obstruction and rule B1 out on the catch. (Rule 8, Section 2
C; Rule 8, Section 5 B EXCEPTION 2)
Play 2: With one out and R1 on 1B, B2 hits a ground
ball to F6. While leaving the plate area, B2 is tripped by F2
causing B2 to fall to the ground. F6 fields the ball and
throws B2 out at 1B.
Ruling: The umpire should signal a delayed dead ball
and call obstruction" on F2 for tripping B2. When B2 is put
out before reaching 1B, the umpire should call time" and
award B2 and R1 the bases they would have reached, in the
umpire's judgment, had there been no obstruction. Since this
is a batted ground ball the batter-runner is awarded at least
1B. (Rule 8, Section 5 B)
Does the Run
Score
The latest issue regarding whether or not a run can score
on the third out of an inning deals with the batter-runner
stepping back to avoid a tag between home plate and first
base. Whenever a question arises regarding whether or not a
run scores, under any circumstance, we should refer to Rule 5,
Section 5. This rule covers each situation in which a run
shall score, as well as situations in which a run shall not be
scored.
Play: R1 on 3B with two outs. B4 hits a slow ground
ball to F3. R1, running on the play, crosses home plate as F3
fields the ball and steps toward B4 to attempt a tag. B4 stops
and then steps back to avoid the tag.
Ruling: The ball is dead and the batter-runner is
out, Rule 8, Section 2 H. The EFFECT to this rule is that the
ball is dead and runner(s) must return to the last base
legally touched at the time of the interference. Although R1
touched home plate before the interference, in this case the
run does not score because Rule 5, Section 5 B 1 does not
permit a run to be scored if the third out of the inning is
the result of a batter-runner being called out prior to
reaching first base. The run does not score.
Batting Out of Order
Batting out of order situations have always been considered
difficult by many umpires. These situations can become easier
to rule on by keeping three things in mind.
- Has a pitch been thrown after the incorrect batter has
batted.
- Any outs made when the incorrect batter is at bat stand.
- When a pitch has not been thrown, if the incorrect
batter makes an out and an appeal is made, the batter who
should have batted is out and the batter who batted remains
out and is skipped if they are scheduled to bat.
Remember, however, if the batter who is scheduled to bat is
the third out of the inning, the correct batter to leadoff the
next inning is the player who would have come to bat had the
player been put out by ordinary play. (Rule 7, Section 2 D
3)
Play 1: With no outs, B9 is scheduled to bat but B1
bats. B1 hits a fly ball that is caught by F7. Before the next
pitch, the defense appeals that B1 batted out of order.
Ruling: B9 is out as B9 is the correct batter and B1
remains out. B2 bats next with two outs. Per Rule 7, Section 2
D 2, after the incorrect batter has completed their turn at
bat and before the next pitch, legal or illegal, to the
following batter and before the pitcher and all infielders
have clearly vacated their normal fielding positions and have
left fair territory; the batter who should have batted is out
and the next batter is the player whose name follows that of
the player called out for failing to bat. EXCEPTION: If the
incorrect batter is called out as a result of their time at
bat and is scheduled to be the proper batter, skip that player
and the next person in the line-up will be the batter.
Play 2: With one out, B7 is scheduled to bat,
however B8 bats. B8 hits a fly ball that is caught for the
second out of the inning. The defense appeals that B8 batted
out of order and the umpire calls B7 out for the third out of
the inning. Who is the leadoff batter in the next inning?
Ruling: B8. In this case, since the second out of
the inning was made by B8 and the third out was made by B7 for
failure to bat in the proper order, B8 is now the leadoff
batter in the next inning. When the batter declared out is the
third out of the inning the correct batter to leadoff the next
inning is the player who would have come to bat had the player
been put out by ordinary play. (Rule 7, Section 2 D 2 d)
Batting with an
Illegal / Altered Bat
When a batter uses an illegal or altered bat and reaches
base safely, and the next batter steps into the batter's box
with the same bat, the following penalties are in effect:
- If noticed before a pitch is made to the next batter,
only the batter who used the bat and is now on base is
called out (Rule 8, Section 7 X).
- If the bat is altered, the player is ejected from the
game and the tournament. The bat is removed from the game,
runners put out prior to discovering the infraction remain
out, and runners not put out return to the base they
occupied at the time of the batted ball (Rule 7, Section 6
B).
- After a pitch to the current batter, that batter is
called out and there is no penalty to the previous batter
for using the illegal or altered bat (Rule 7, Section 6 C
EFFECT).
Play: B1, having just hit a double, is on 2B. B2
picks up the bat just used by B1 and enters the batter's box.
Before a pitch is made, the plate umpire notices that the bat
is one that appears on the non-approved bat list.
Ruling: B1, who is on 2B, is called out and ejected
from the game, and if in a tournament, from the tournament.
The non-approved bat is removed from the game and B2 bats
using a legal bat. (Rule 7, Section B and C; Rule 8, Section 7
X)
Two-Umpire System
Mechanics Plate Coverage
Questions have arisen as to whether or not the base umpire
in the Two-Umpire System is ever responsible to cover plays at
the plate. The simple answer is NO, the base umpire never has
responsibility for calls at home plate in the Two-Umpire
System.
The plate umpire always has responsibility for calls at
home plate, as described in pages 219 and 220 of the Umpire's
Manual under the heading Tag Plays at Home Plate". There is
no reference anywhere in the Umpire Manual to the base umpire
covering home plate in the Two-Umpire System. The reasoning
for this mechanic has more to do with the base umpire's added
responsibilities when multiple runners are on base. However,
in the case of a lone runner where the plate umpire moves
toward third base for a possible call, the plate umpire can
still return to the plate area for a call by staying inside
the diamond, thereby staying ahead of the runner and
maintaining a 90 degrees angle to the path of the runner. As
always, if there is a mechanical breakdown during a play and
we need to deviate from a prescribed mechanic, we must
communicate.
Again, plays at home plate are the sole responsibility of
the Plate Umpire!
Rule
Clarifications and Plays
Index