- Jun 16, 2017
- 3
- 0
I read the ASA rule book to educate myself on girls fastpitch u12, and googled a bunch and cannot find a clear answer, hopefully someone here can help give me a rule clarification.
We had a situation in a game today where a runner was running home as the ball was being thrown back from outfield. Ball is thrown in to pitcher and she starts to throw but runner is already approaching home. Catcher is standing right on the plate without the ball waiting for the ball from pitcher. Runner steps on side edge of the plate and with the momentum runs into catcher and bounces off. Doesn't lean in or extend arms, but the catcher does put out an arm into the runner (ball still not to catcher). The catcher doesn't get knocked over or even move at all but smaller runner tumbles to ground behind catcher after impact. Umpire calls runner out for not avoiding contact. In this league they go by ASA and no "must slide" rule.
Is it obstruction by the catcher or is the runner out?
To me it seems the rules state that the catcher must have the ball or it is obstruction. One blog I read said the runner would score as she touched the plate first, but the umpire may eject her if it was malicious. What is the real deal?
We had a situation in a game today where a runner was running home as the ball was being thrown back from outfield. Ball is thrown in to pitcher and she starts to throw but runner is already approaching home. Catcher is standing right on the plate without the ball waiting for the ball from pitcher. Runner steps on side edge of the plate and with the momentum runs into catcher and bounces off. Doesn't lean in or extend arms, but the catcher does put out an arm into the runner (ball still not to catcher). The catcher doesn't get knocked over or even move at all but smaller runner tumbles to ground behind catcher after impact. Umpire calls runner out for not avoiding contact. In this league they go by ASA and no "must slide" rule.
Is it obstruction by the catcher or is the runner out?
To me it seems the rules state that the catcher must have the ball or it is obstruction. One blog I read said the runner would score as she touched the plate first, but the umpire may eject her if it was malicious. What is the real deal?