UCLA vs LSU Obstruction Call

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Jun 18, 2010
2,624
38
ucla_lsu_obstruction_call_1_zpsibud5rxp.gif
 

TMD

Feb 18, 2016
433
43
Would love to hear from our residents umps about this. C is clearly blocking the plate before, but at what point does "in the act of catching the ball" kick in?
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
From SB17 - POINTS OF EMPHASIS"

The committee made a small change in the wording of the obstruction
rule, but expects to see fewer defenders blocking their bases sooner than they
are entitled to. The specific wording replaces “about to receive a thrown ball”
with “in the act of catching a thrown ball.”
Players and umpires will no
longer have to judge if the ball is closer to the base than the runner is, but
instead whether the defender was positioning herself (not protected) or in
the act of receiving the throw (protected). Although not new to the rule, in
order for obstruction to be called, note that the runner must be impeded in
some way such as by altering her course to the base or by being denied direct
access to the base. Blocking access to the base with no noticeable effect on a
runner remains a “no call.”
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Based on the above, and with the catcher in possession of the ball before the player started to slide I do not see the obstruction.
 

TMD

Feb 18, 2016
433
43
Cheri Kempf and her studio partner were both adamant that this was a blown call. She compared it to the non-call in the Wash-Or game (ok knightsb, need that video now) saying it was the exact same thing. Big difference, imo, was the runner still had clear access to the plate in the Wash-Or game.
 
Apr 16, 2010
924
43
Alabama
I think it is obstruction. She set up blocking the plate and was moving to block the plate as the ball is coming in. She didn't move toward a position to catch the ball but instead dropped her back knee to block the plate before receiving the ball.
 

Latest posts

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,468
Members
21,443
Latest member
sstop28
Top