Classy umpire

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Sep 14, 2014
56
6
Several years ago my middle DD played in a 8u all-star game that was using a three man crew. Our hitter hit a ball in the gap with a runner on first. The umpire that was calling at first base ran across the diamond and completely took out the batter-runner who was advancing to second base. I wasn't sure she was going to get up and go to either base. The play went on with the defensive team over throwing third base and the runner that started at first scored. My batter-runner was able to finally crawl back to first. After the play, I argued that the umpires should place my batter-runner where she would have ended up without the umpire obstruction. They stated the umpires are part of the field and the runners have to work around them (somewhere in there I also let them know that this wasn't baseball and there is no room for them to be running across the infield). Were the umpires correct or should I have won this argument?
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Several years ago my middle DD played in a 8u all-star game that was using a three man crew. Our hitter hit a ball in the gap with a runner on first. The umpire that was calling at first base ran across the diamond and completely took out the batter-runner who was advancing to second base. I wasn't sure she was going to get up and go to either base. The play went on with the defensive team over throwing third base and the runner that started at first scored. My batter-runner was able to finally crawl back to first. After the play, I argued that the umpires should place my batter-runner where she would have ended up without the umpire obstruction. They stated the umpires are part of the field and the runners have to work around them (somewhere in there I also let them know that this wasn't baseball and there is no room for them to be running across the infield). Were the umpires correct or should I have won this argument?

No such thing as umpire obstruction. As they stated, umpires are part of the field, but, it is the umpires that should strive to stay out of the way not the runners having to work around them. Things do sometimes happen, but the umpires should stay out of the way of the game participants.
 
Sep 14, 2014
56
6
So if she was unable to crawl back to the base and had been tagged out, the correct call would be out? Any idea where to find this in the rule book?
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
You wont find anything in the rule book. Obstruction is the act of a defensive player who impedes a runner. An umpire is not a defensive player, except for a very few instances regarding umpire interference umpires are part of the field. And yes, the answer to your questions is the runner would be out if tagged off the base.
 
Mar 14, 2011
785
18
Silicon Valley, CA
Its in every softball rule set, not just NFHS. If a runner is obstructed, at the conclusion of play they and any other runner affected by the obstruction are to be awarded the base or bases the umpire judges they would have reached if not obstructed. There is absolutely no requirement that they attempt to advance to receive the award.

This cost me a championship a few years back. Wish more umps understood this. A very old, experienced, and over-confident fool called this wrongly.
 

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