Infield fly rule called after the fact

OK, so first off I know that if the IFF isn't called, the umps can and probably should sort it out and make the correct call after the fact.

However, how should this situation been handled. Runners on 1st and 2nd, no outs, pop up between pitcher and home and no one gets there in time. No IFF rule announced Ball bounces, both runners try to advance. Catcher gets ball and throws to third where the third baseman has her foot on the bag thinking she was making a force out. Original call, out at third. Umps convene and decide that the batter is out on the IFF, and the runner at third is safe because she was not tagged, since the IFF removed the force.

If the IFF was called, likely neither runner advances and third base would have known it was a tag play. So it felt like the umps mistakes allowed the runners to advance. How should this have been called.

First off, pop up between pitcher and home and no one can get there would tend to indicate the possibility the ball was not catchable with normal effort. Without seeing it in person have no idea if it should have been called or not.

As for the rest of it, the umpires should correct the situation with as little damage as possible to both teams. As you have stated, the runners most likely would not have advanced if the umpires had made a timely call of the IFF, so why reward the offense with a base advance due to the tag of the base and not the runner? Would they have let the out stand if F5 had tagged the runner instead of the base? Invoke the IFF after the fact, call the batter out and return the runners to the bases they occupied at the time of the batted ball.

Comp has it spot on. Apply the Infield Fly rule, call the batter out, return runners to first and second, one out, play ball.

Side note....this option would not be available in an NCAA game. Their rule states that the IFF cannot be applied retroactively. In this situation, the call would stand as made on the field and one of the coaches is probably going to have some words for the umpire(s).

Sounds like the original call was the correct one. Neither player caught it with reasonable effort. Have seen this happen a couple of times where a difficult pop-up near the catcher was not called because catcher never had it under control.

Ajaywill said:

Comp has it spot on. Apply the Infield Fly rule, call the batter out, return runners to first and second, one out, play ball.

Side note....this option would not be available in an NCAA game. Their rule states that the IFF cannot be applied retroactively. In this situation, the call would stand as made on the field and one of the coaches is probably going to have some words for the umpire(s).

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Really? this was being played under ncaa rules.

chinamigarden said:

Really? this was being played under ncaa rules.

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If it was an NCAA game, throw just about all rulings from any other rule set out the window. NCAA rules are vastly different than any other softball rule set.

The rule does not require the defender to even attempt to catch the ball. It only requires the umpire judge that the ball could have been caught with ordinary effort.

I find it hard to believe that the pitcher could not have caught such a ball with ordinary effort, but as Comp noted, HTBT.