Twice while she was playing first

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Jun 11, 2013
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This may depend on sanctioning body then. We have rarely played games that have safety bags but I have seen twice where the batter was called safe because the first baseman did not touch the actual base but did touch the safety base. I did not see anywhere in the rule book that stated if the ball is thrown from foul territory that the baseman can occupy the safety base but that may be the case. All I could actually find on the subject was that the safety bag is for the batter only and once/if the batter becomes a runner then the safety base no longer exists. This is just my experience with the matter.


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Outside of maybe Little League which I have no idea, the other orgs we have played allow it on throws from foul territory.
 
May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
Most definitely she can use the safety base. That is part of what the term means.
Also, do not separate your shoulder by letting the runner hit you. You are stationary and she is running. She will get the base anyway. Move and make certain your right fielder is in position to field the throw.
(Yelling outside, is the correct play.)
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
Not a shot at your DD, but I commonly see teams put pitchers at 1B with absolutely no training on how to play there. It's easy to pick out. It's one thing to stand on the base and catch a well thrown ball, but when the throw is in the dirt or a bit off line, or when a ball comes off the end-cap of the bat and up the 1B foul line, those who actually practice and play there stand out. If you're not used to a close play with a runner coming at you full-speed, it's easy to get distracted. It doesn't sound like her coaches have any idea what to tell her.
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
This may depend on sanctioning body then. We have rarely played games that have safety bags but I have seen twice where the batter was called safe because the first baseman did not touch the actual base but did touch the safety base. I did not see anywhere in the rule book that stated if the ball is thrown from foul territory that the baseman can occupy the safety base but that may be the case. All I could actually find on the subject was that the safety bag is for the batter only and once/if the batter becomes a runner then the safety base no longer exists. This is just my experience with the matter.

What sanctioning body and rule set?
 
Nov 29, 2016
33
6
Here's the rule from the ASA rule book. Rule 8 Section 2-N Parts 4 and 5 that deal with situations where the fielder may use the safety bag. My daughter loves playing first too and this situation has come up a few times so I looked up the rule for our association. It doesn't seem to be well known by the coaches in our league. I even had one coach tell me that he instructs his catchers to throw at the runners backs to get an interference call!


4. On any force out attempt from the foul side of first base the defense and the batter/runner
may use either the white or contrasting color portion of the base.

5. On an errant throw pulling the defense off the white portion of the base into foul
ground, the defense and the batter-runner can use either the white or contrasting color
portion.
 
Last edited:
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
As others have said, the C and 1B working together - and communicating with each other - to create clear throwing lane is important, and makes these plays much easier. This is something that needs to be practiced a few times.

The coach that said "that base is as much yours as hers " is ignorant of the rules of obstruction. On a thrown ball, the runner has the right of way. If a fielder moving to catch a thrown ball impedes the progress of the runner, before the fielder has possession of the ball, it is obstruction.
 

Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
Unless the play is going to be very close, the first baseman has time to set up and provide a clear throwing lane for the C on a D3K and THEN touch the base after having received the throw.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
TB players are positioned where they will benefit the team, not where "they prefer". If your DD wants to play F3 and has not played there much in the past, or received proper coaching on how to play the position, take it upon yourselves to work on it outside of regular practices. If your DD wants to play F3 at the older age groups and high level TB she will probably need to have a BIG bat.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
Unless the play is going to be very close, the first baseman has time to set up and provide a clear throwing lane for the C on a D3K and THEN touch the base after having received the throw.

Took WAY too many comments before getting this one!

There's nothing that says she has to start out on the base. Get the base throwing lane for the catcher, catch the ball, step on the base. There will be some times where the runner is too fast or the ball bounces too far away and this isn't an option, but if it IS an option, use it. More importantly, teach her. Some players will have the instinct to do this, but most won't. She won't know if she's not given the information.
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
Took WAY too many comments before getting this one!

There's nothing that says she has to start out on the base. Get the base throwing lane for the catcher, catch the ball, step on the base. There will be some times where the runner is too fast or the ball bounces too far away and this isn't an option, but if it IS an option, use it. More importantly, teach her. Some players will have the instinct to do this, but most won't. She won't know if she's not given the information.

At higher levels assuming decent speed this usually won't work which is why it is not the recommended technique.
 

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