Obstruction again???

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

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

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
I know I am apparently wrong on this and the umpire that called it is not only a good friend but an outstanding umpire. Bases loaded. Hard groundball to SS. Up SS arms over the shoulder and behind the fielder by maybe 2 or 3 feet. My runner coming from 2nd to 3rd stops as the fielder goes to field the ball but then tries to go behind fielder as the ball heads up the arm. Fielder, naturally, turns to retrieve the ball and makes contact with my runner. Obstruction called. Runner returns to 3rd, run taken off the scoreboard and out recorded. In talking to umpire, I mention that this can't be obstruction since the ball was missed, went beyond the fielder and the fielder moved toward the OF to retrieve the ball. Explanation was that the fielder gets one step and a reach to get the ball. I've never heard that before. Umpire says that can easily cover 3 feet.

Thoughts on this?

BTW, there was not an argument here. I know that this umpire is above reproach.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
He called interference on your runner, not obstruction on the fielder. And yes, nfhs rules protect the fielder within a step and a reach when they miss handle Fielding a batted ball.
 
Mar 26, 2013
1,934
0
NFHS Rule 2 Definitions

SECTION 47 “PLAY BALL,” MAKE A PLAY, INITIAL PLAY
...
ART. 3 . . . Initial Play. A fielder is considered to be making an initial play on a fair batted ball when she:
a. Has a reasonable chance to gain control of a ground ball that no other fielder (except the pitcher) has touched. (8-8-6)
b. Has a reasonable chance to catch the ball in flight or catch the ball in flight after it touches another fielder.
c. Fails to gain control of the batted ball and is within a step and a reach (in any direction) of the spot of the initial contact.
 
Mar 15, 2014
191
18
NFHS Rule 2 Definitions

SECTION 47 “PLAY BALL,” MAKE A PLAY, INITIAL PLAY
...
ART. 3 . . . Initial Play. A fielder is considered to be making an initial play on a fair batted ball when she:
a. Has a reasonable chance to gain control of a ground ball that no other fielder (except the pitcher) has touched. (8-8-6)
b. Has a reasonable chance to catch the ball in flight or catch the ball in flight after it touches another fielder.
c. Fails to gain control of the batted ball and is within a step and a reach (in any direction) of the spot of the initial contact.
Is this from the NFHS case book or the rule book?
 

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
The reason I posted this is because I knew I had to be wrong and so, this was for others to read the responses. We have such great resources from umpires on this site that I knew I'd get not only an agreement with my buddy but also the rule clearly defined. Thanks everyone. BTW, and again, my point in my disagreement was that the ball had passed the infielder. I know that this is a rule as well.

Per my runner, there was really nothing that she could do. For her/us, it was just one of those things.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
Is this from the NFHS case book or the rule book?

It is in the rule book. It is a ludicrous rule that actually penalizes the offense for attempting to avoid INT. I could understand protecting the fielder for a ball that has yet to pass a fielder, but to extend that protection to the rear of the fielder is ridiculous
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,475
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top