Make the call

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

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

Jan 28, 2017
1,662
83
Pop up and the pitcher is running towards the first base line. The ball hits off the pitchers glove in fair territory and rolls foul. The pitcher can't find the ball and stands straddle the baseline, the runner has to run around the pitcher (almost stopped to keep from hitting the pitcher). Pitcher finds the ball and throws the runner out. Obstruction or not?
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Going to depend on rule set. USA softball, the fielder gets one chance to field a batted ball. If they muff it and are in the way of the runner it is now obstruction. NFHS and USSSA follow the step and reach theory, if the fielder mishandles the ball and it is still within a step and a reach they are considered to still be making an initial play and are protected from committing obstruction.
 
Last edited:

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
Going to depend on rule set. USA softball, the fielder gets one chance to field a batted ball. If they muff it and are in the way of the runner it is no obstruction. NFHS and USSSA follow the step and reach theory, if the fielder mishandles the ball and it is still within a step and a reach they are considered to still be making an initial play and are protected from committing obstruction.

And this play is a prime example as to why I question those allowances. The batter-runner is in a no-win situation.
 
Jan 28, 2017
1,662
83
The ball was probably four feet away. I called time and asked to talk with the official (very calm). Out! I asked will you talk with me? Out! I'm trying to be nice and talk with you. Out! You may not have seen it but it was obstruction after the pitcher missed the ball. I saw it and that's the first baseman's first warning. LOL, the first baseman caught the ball at first base and was never even involved in the play other than catching the ball.

After the inning is over he is asking the tournament director if the pitcher has the right to catch the ball or not. He said, I'm not sure. Of course, now I'm hot and let him have it. Told him instead of apologizing to my batter, my team, our fans, myself, the first thing you need to is go tell the first baseman that you have no clue and you are sorry that you warned him because he did nothing wrong but if he had, I screwed that up also.

Same tournament but different official, pick off play at first and they called the runner out for not tagging up. What? Protest and the director said they had read it someplace about having to tag up. Unreal!
 
Last edited:

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
Yeah, the pitcher missed the pop-up, but STILL was making an initial play on a batted ball. If a middle-infielder doesn't field a ground ball cleanly, and has to take a step to get hold of it while inadvertently getting in the way of a runner, that's not obstruction. In fact, if the runner collides with the fielder, that's interference. So, I'm not sure how a pitcher straddling the foul line while going after a ball is obstructing, and if the pitcher could drop the ball, lose track of it, and THEN throw the runner out at 1B, the runner is either terribly slow, or the ball and pitcher weren't far apart at all. In fact, your runner could have been tagged with interference had she run into the pitcher.

Not sure what the warning business was all about, but everyone seems pretty confused there. On a ball near the foul line, the runner needs to make sure that they give the defender room. They can run outside the running lane on the foul side to avoid interfering and being slowed down. Next time, hit the ball harder.
 
Last edited:
Jul 22, 2015
851
93
While some rule sets apparently allow a "continuation" to attempt making the play, I've never seen a fielder get the interference call once they bobbled the initial attempt and had to take take another step or two gather the ball. It certainly puts the runner in a no-win situation. If you don't field it cleanly you should no longer be protected from interference.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Yeah, the pitcher missed the pop-up, but STILL was making an initial play on a batted ball. If a middle-infielder doesn't field a ground ball cleanly, and has to take a step to get hold of it while inadvertently getting in the way of a runner, that's not obstruction. In fact, if the runner collides with the fielder, that's interference. So, I'm not sure how a pitcher straddling the foul line while going after a ball is obstructing, and if the pitcher could drop the ball, lose track of it, and THEN throw the runner out at 1B, the runner is either terribly slow, or the ball and pitcher weren't far apart at all. In fact, your runner could have been tagged with interference had she run into the pitcher.

Not sure what the warning business was all about, but everyone seems pretty confused there. On a ball near the foul line, the runner needs to make sure that they give the defender room. They can run outside the running lane on the foul side to avoid interfering and being slowed down. Next time, hit the ball harder.

As I have already stated, that is going to depend completely on what rule set the game was being played under. There is no such thing as initial play in USA softball. The fielder gets 1 chance to field the ball, if the mishandle it and are in the way of the runner it is now obstruction. As for being interference, the umpire must now judge the runner did something intentional to be called for interference in USA.
 
Jan 28, 2017
1,662
83
Yeah, the pitcher missed the pop-up, but STILL was making an initial play on a batted ball. If a middle-infielder doesn't field a ground ball cleanly, and has to take a step to get hold of it while inadvertently getting in the way of a runner, that's not obstruction. In fact, if the runner collides with the fielder, that's interference. So, I'm not sure how a pitcher straddling the foul line while going after a ball is obstructing, and if the pitcher could drop the ball, lose track of it, and THEN throw the runner out at 1B, the runner is either terribly slow, or the ball and pitcher weren't far apart at all. In fact, your runner could have been tagged with interference had she run into the pitcher.

Not sure what the warning business was all about, but everyone seems pretty confused there. On a ball near the foul line, the runner needs to make sure that they give the defender room. They can run outside the running lane on the foul side to avoid interfering and being slowed down. Next time, hit the ball harder.

Pitcher was very athletic and the runner hesitated thinking it was foul. Hit the pitchers glove and rolled foul. Pitcher was straddle the line and then spinning to find the ball. When they were spinning the runner ran almost into the dugout to get out of the way and then the 1st baseman was stretching in foul territory. The runner ran back to the inside to not run into the 1st baseman.

The play is completely a judgement call IMO and a tough one. The problem I had was the way it was handled. The runner is average speed but really couldn't run the way the play happened. Had to move and stop 3x.
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
As I have already stated, that is going to depend completely on what rule set the game was being played under. There is no such thing as initial play in USA softball. The fielder gets 1 chance to field the ball, if the mishandle it and are in the way of the runner it is now obstruction. As for being interference, the umpire must now judge the runner did something intentional to be called for interference in USA.

I've got the 2015 USA rule book. Please point me to the part where the fielder gets the one chance to field the ball, and the part requiring specific intent on the part of the runner for an interference call.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,481
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top