Forfeit...What is the call

Crystal Brown · Oct 2, 2017

This weekend my dd guest played in a softball tournament, we were watching a game to see who they will be playing next. About mid-way through the game, the pitcher walked backed into the circle facing toward the catcher, the runner on 2nd stole 3rd. The coach comes out saying that the runner cannot advance with the pitcher in the circle. Ref sends runner back to 2nd. Coach protest again saying the runner is out. The refs get together. Moments later, ref tells the girl to go back to 3rd. Coach forfeits the game and leaves.From where I was sitting, the pitcher seems to be in the circle but she wasn't in position to pitch. What is your call? Which call do you think was correct? What are your thoughts about the decision the coach made forfeiting the game? It was a double elimination bracket and with that forfeit they were sent home.
Also, I checked to see what the score was...they were losing 8-0...so that one runner advancing would not make a difference in the game.

djcarter1966 · Oct 2, 2017

Crystal Brown said:
This weekend my dd guest played in a softball tournament, we were watching a game to see who they will be playing next. About mid-way through the game, the pitcher walked backed into the circle facing toward the catcher, the runner on 2nd stole 3rd. The coach comes out saying that the runner cannot advance with the pitcher in the circle. Ref sends runner back to 2nd. Coach protest again saying the runner is out. The refs get together. Moments later, ref tells the girl to go back to 3rd. Coach forfeits the game and leaves.From where I was sitting, the pitcher seems to be in the circle but she wasn't in position to pitch. What is your call? Which call do you think was correct? What are your thoughts about the decision the coach made forfeiting the game? It was a double elimination bracket and with that forfeit they were sent home.
Also, I checked to see what the score was...they were losing 8-0...so that one runner advancing would not make a difference in the game.

First please say umps, when you says refs the feeling I get is like nails on a chalkboard.

Coach and team were probably tired and wanted to go home and just figured this was a good a time as any. Trust me if they were winning 8-0 with a chance to go to advance in the bracket it would have been 100% different.

If the runner is on the base and the pitcher is anywhere in the circle the runner can not leave the base if she does she is out. This would be the case where the UIC or TD should be called or the game played under protest, I use to always have this section highlighted in my rule book it is very basic but baseball umpires don't understand it and if tournaments are short umpires that is usually the first place the turn.

quincy · Oct 2, 2017

They are umpires, not refs.

Once the P is in the circle with control of the ball the runner needs to make an immediate decision to go forward or backward. Once they are on the base with the pitcher in control of the ball in circle the runner can not just take off as long as she does not make a fake throw attempt or leave they circle. Pitching plate, or being on the pitching plate, means nothing. The actual circle means everything.

Sounds like sore loser coach was right. There should have been so sort of tournament directory they could have appeal to.

Last game DD would play for that coach.

Crystal Brown · Oct 2, 2017

I knew that...was just checking to see if you catch it

You guys are too good

Crystal Brown · Oct 2, 2017

quincy said:
They are umpires, not refs.

Once the P is in the circle with control of the ball the runner needs to make an immediate decision to go forward or backward. Once they are on the base with the pitcher in control of the ball in circle the runner can not just take off as long as she does not make a fake throw attempt or leave they circle. Pitching plate, or being on the pitching plate, means nothing. The actual circle means everything.

Sounds like sore loser coach was right. There should have been so sort of tournament directory they could have appeal to.

Last game DD would play for that coach.

The coach did appeal it...it took awhile for them to come back with the decision. The pitcher never made an attempt to throw the ball.

chinamigarden · Oct 2, 2017

Was the runner actualy on the base of was she just off the base. If she is just off the base once the look back rule is in affect she has to either immediately advance, or immediately return to the base. If she is off the base, she can take off toward third.

Ksphenom · Oct 2, 2017

Only been involved with a forfeit once. End of season game. Out of town and when it goes down in the books its 7 runs to 0. So that 8 to 0 goes to 7 to 0.

grcsftbll · Oct 3, 2017

The way I understand it if she was already off the base, and the pitcher turned her back, she could either go back to 2 or tear off to 3 but has to do one or the other right away. If she was just standing on base and waiting for her to turn her back in the circle with the ball in her hand, she'd be out if she tried to steal. You didn't say if she was on the base or already off at the time. I might be wrong about this which is part of why I'm posting (I know someone will correct me and I'll learn something, lol).

ang2bmd · Oct 3, 2017

So the above poster is correct it all depends on where the runner was when the pitcher went back into the circle. If she was not on the base she has the choice to advance or go back. If her choice is to go forward so be it...just get her out

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

osagedr · Oct 4, 2017

chinamigarden said:
Was the runner actualy on the base of was she just off the base. If she is just off the base once the look back rule is in affect she has to either immediately advance, or immediately return to the base. If she is off the base, she can take off toward third.

This was my question too - was the runner on the base? If not, free to advance.

Real issue for the coach is why was the pitcher not paying attention...

Forfeit...What is the call

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Crystal Brown

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