Over the weekend DD's team had crazy situation. We are down 6-2, up to bat with bases loaded. Our batter hits a grand slam which ties up the game 6-6, and the dugout empties as you can imagine. As the players were returning to the dugout, the opposing coach is on the field talking to the umpires and pointing at home plate. We hear the parents yelling rules are rules!! What the heck is happening??? After about 5 minutes of coach/umpire/coach discussions, the ump points to the plate and signals out but also signals 3 runs score. The place erupted. More coach discussions going back and forth. From what I am gathering they are saying players were in fair territory when the hitter made it to home plate. We have it on video that it was the runners who scored turned around and welcomed the hitter home.
Umpires now disappeared from the field while our players are now on the field b/c that would have been the 3rd out. 20 minutes have now passed and we assumed the ump went to his car to make a phone call. Meanwhile, we are on our phones trying to find the rule and we found this. Umpires finally come back to the field and signal that the HR counts. We end up losing anyway.11-7.
But wow. They tried to take the HR away from that kid and the coach was adamant that he was right. The umpires originally ruled incorrectly after the coach talked them into it, but eventually did the right thing. First of all, if they don't understand/know the rule how can they make a ruling? If they did not see it, how can they make a ruling?
Teams should make a tunnel instead of running out to home plate!
The COVID-19 home run waiver has been rescinded. Therefore, teams may congregate in foul territory around home plate to congratulate the runner(s) on an out of the park home run as per Rule 12.17.3.4.2. Rule 12.17.3.4.2 Offensive team personnel shall congregate only in foul territory around home plate to congratulate the runner(s). EFFECT—For the first offense of Rule 12.17.3.4, the umpire shall issue a warning to the offending team. If a subsequent offense of Rule 12.17.3.4 occurs that violates Rule 12.17.3.4.1, the ball is dead and the player touched is immediately declared out and credited with the last base legally touched at the time of the interference. If a subsequent offense of Rule 12.17.3.4 occurs that violates Rule 12.17.3.4.2, the ball is dead and the batter-runner is declared out and credited with the last base legally touched at the time team personnel entered fair territory. In all cases, each other base runner must return to the last base legally touched at the time of the violation.
Umpires now disappeared from the field while our players are now on the field b/c that would have been the 3rd out. 20 minutes have now passed and we assumed the ump went to his car to make a phone call. Meanwhile, we are on our phones trying to find the rule and we found this. Umpires finally come back to the field and signal that the HR counts. We end up losing anyway.11-7.
But wow. They tried to take the HR away from that kid and the coach was adamant that he was right. The umpires originally ruled incorrectly after the coach talked them into it, but eventually did the right thing. First of all, if they don't understand/know the rule how can they make a ruling? If they did not see it, how can they make a ruling?
Teams should make a tunnel instead of running out to home plate!
The COVID-19 home run waiver has been rescinded. Therefore, teams may congregate in foul territory around home plate to congratulate the runner(s) on an out of the park home run as per Rule 12.17.3.4.2. Rule 12.17.3.4.2 Offensive team personnel shall congregate only in foul territory around home plate to congratulate the runner(s). EFFECT—For the first offense of Rule 12.17.3.4, the umpire shall issue a warning to the offending team. If a subsequent offense of Rule 12.17.3.4 occurs that violates Rule 12.17.3.4.1, the ball is dead and the player touched is immediately declared out and credited with the last base legally touched at the time of the interference. If a subsequent offense of Rule 12.17.3.4 occurs that violates Rule 12.17.3.4.2, the ball is dead and the batter-runner is declared out and credited with the last base legally touched at the time team personnel entered fair territory. In all cases, each other base runner must return to the last base legally touched at the time of the violation.
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