Collision at second base

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Mar 8, 2016
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In our tournament yesterday there was a play at second that I would like to know the rule on. We are a second year 14u team playing in a 16/18 tournament. All big girls with lots of softball experience. The opposing team had a runner on first that attempted to steal second. Our catcher made a great throw and the shortstop caught the ball at knee height on the second base side of the bag. She was just waiting to tag the girl by about 2 full steps. The runner chose not to slide and instead collided into our shortstop still going at full speed. The runner did not make any noticeable effort to lower her shoulder or any other move that could be taken as a dirty play. The runner was out and both players were slightly shaken up. Nobody was hurt or had to leave the game. As coaches we discussed whether there was a legal play by the runner. We ended up deciding that since the runner made no move that showed ill intent it was a legal but dangerous play.
On a related note how do you teach your ss to field throws on stolen base attempts. I think they should cut just in front of the bag to field the throw. Our ss has been taught to straddle the bag to receive the throw.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
In our tournament yesterday there was a play at second that I would like to know the rule on. We are a second year 14u team playing in a 16/18 tournament. All big girls with lots of softball experience. The opposing team had a runner on first that attempted to steal second. Our catcher made a great throw and the shortstop caught the ball at knee height on the second base side of the bag. She was just waiting to tag the girl by about 2 full steps. The runner chose not to slide and instead collided into our shortstop still going at full speed. The runner did not make any noticeable effort to lower her shoulder or any other move that could be taken as a dirty play. The runner was out and both players were slightly shaken up. Nobody was hurt or had to leave the game. As coaches we discussed whether there was a legal play by the runner. We ended up deciding that since the runner made no move that showed ill intent it was a legal but dangerous play.
On a related note how do you teach your ss to field throws on stolen base attempts. I think they should cut just in front of the bag to field the throw. Our ss has been taught to straddle the bag to receive the throw.

In all rule sets, the runner would be out regardless of what happened at or after the collision. The ball would be declared dead immediately and if there were other runners, they would need to return to the last base occupied at the time of the INT.

If considered malicious, or whatever other term you would like to use, the runner should be ejected. And there are zero excuses not to slide or, at least, make an attempt to check up to minimize the collision. You will also hear, "but she wasn't seriously hurt". That's nice, but the next time the player could end up in the hospital. And, btw, this ISN'T part of the game.

Straddling the base is fine as long as the player catches the ball prior to the runner arriving. However, if the ball isn't caught or the runner gets their first, it is now obstruction. However, that doesn't make it open season on the defender and if the runner intentionally runs through or over the defender, she may be safe, but still ejected.
 
Last edited:
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
If the SS had dropped the ball because of the collision, assuming truly no ill intent, would she have been out still?

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
If the SS had dropped the ball because of the collision, assuming truly no ill intent, would she have been out still?

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

If the defender is in possession of the ball and waiting to make a tag, and the runner remains on their feet and crashes into the fielder as MTR stated, the ball is dead and the runner is out. To avoid being called out for crashing the fielder, the runner may give themselves up, jump over (except NFHS), go around or slide.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
DD did not have the ball and was sent to another zip code, closest I have seen player tossed from one of our games.

She would have been safe regardless if tossed or not.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
DD did not have the ball and was sent to another zip code, closest I have seen player tossed from one of our games.

If that happened and the player was not ejected, you need to find another umpire group before someone is seriously injured.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Same as OP, no ill intent. Ump started to toss runner then stopped and warned both benches as DD was picking herself off the fence.

It was Ok.
 
May 30, 2013
1,442
83
Binghamton, NY
Straddling the base is fine as long as the player catches the ball prior to the runner arriving. However, if the ball isn't caught or the runner gets their first, it is now obstruction.

Why, obstruction?
If straddling the base, the fielder isn't impeding the runner's ability to reach the bag.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Why, obstruction?
If straddling the base, the fielder isn't impeding the runner's ability to reach the bag.

A runner is never required to slide, so if a fielder is straddling the base how are they providing full and complete access to the runner unless they slide? And if it does force the runner to slide, then they have impeded the runner. What if no throw is coming (for that matter, even if a throw was coming) and the runner wants to round the base? How can they with a fielder standing over it?
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
A runner is never required to slide, so if a fielder is straddling the base how are they providing full and complete access to the runner unless they slide? And if it does force the runner to slide, then they have impeded the runner. What if no throw is coming (for that matter, even if a throw was coming) and the runner wants to round the base? How can they with a fielder standing over it?

Im guessing we are only talking about a play in which the fielder does not have the ball. Normal circumstances would have the ball being caught right before or after the runner arrives at the base which at that point I assume no obstruction is possible since they possess the ball.
 

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