After a walk continuing to second with ball in circle

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

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

May 29, 2015
3,731
113
Adding to Comp’s comments above ...

In that video, it does not matter that the pitcher made a play because the runner had already committed the violation. As soon as the runner broke to second, the ball should have been IMMEDIATELY dead and the runner called out.

The “making a play” exception means a play is currently in progress of being made, not that the offense can commit a illegal act trying to trigger something else afterwards.
 
Mar 14, 2017
453
43
Michigan
Not sure what ruleset they were using (based on umpires’ uniforms it isn’t USSSA and likely isn’t USA unless they are wearing the old navy ASA jerseys) but that is an LBR violation all day long and twice on Sundays.

What rule set would you like the citation for? Here is the NFHS circa 2016. Applicable section in bold.

NFHS (2016)
Rule 8 Batter-Runner and Runner
SECTION 7 (F.P.) LOOK-BACK RULE
ART. 4 . . . Responsibilities of batter-runner after completing a turn at bat, and while the pitcher has the ball within the 16-foot pitching circle, including a base on balls or a dropped third strike are as follows:

a. A batter-runner who rounds first base toward second base may stop, but then must immediately, without stopping, return to first or attempt to advance to second base.
b. A batter-runner who overruns first base toward right field, turns left and immediately stops, must then return non-stop to first or attempt to advance to second base.
c. A batter-runner who overruns first base toward right field, turns left and moves directly toward second base and stops is committed to second and must attempt to advance non-stop to second base.
d. A batter-runner who overruns first base toward right field, turns left and moves back toward the infield in any direction except directly toward second base is committed to first and must return to first base.
e. A batter-runner who overruns first base toward right field, and turns right, is committed to first base and must return to first base.

PENALTY: (Arts. 2, 3, 4) The ball is dead. "No pitch" is declared when applicable, and the runner is out. If two runners or more are off their bases, when one is called out, the ball is dead and other runners are returned to the last base touched. Only one runner may be called out.

EXCEPTION: The runner will not be declared out if a play is made on another runner (a fake throw is considered a play), the pitcher no longer has possession of the ball within the 16-foot circle, or the pitcher releases the ball on a pitch to the batter.

Thanks!
 
May 30, 2013
1,442
83
Binghamton, NY
there was no reason for the Runner to overrun 1B on a walk, anyway.

But since she did, and then walked directly back in the direction of 1b,
as soon as she then changed direction and broke toward 2b,
I say it is a (dead ball) lookback violation.
 
May 29, 2015
3,731
113
there was no reason for the Runner to overrun 1B on a walk, anyway.

I started to agree with this, but after thinking about it ...

A walk is still a live ball. It makes good sense for the runner to hustle (run) to first in case ball four was a passed ball/wild pitch or the throw back to the pitcher is misplayed and thrown away. Whether the runner runs through or rounds it depends on what happens while running, just like a base hit. The runner’s job is to run and let the coach make the decision.

Agreed that overrunning that far is more of an indication of the runner trying to set something like that play up though.
 
Feb 4, 2015
641
28
Massachusetts
My DD's team did this all the time, both on infield singles and on walks. They were usually playing showcase under USA/ASA rules. Her coaches were college coaches, so apparently they and they umps know why is wasn't a violation of the look back rule.
 
May 29, 2015
3,731
113
The NCAA rule is different. Since you mention “showcase under USA/ASA rules” that plays a big part into looser rule interpretations/applications as well.

Even under a specific rule set in a competitive game though, it can be a fine line between what is legal and what is a violation. Timing and the order of events are very integral.
 

Latest posts

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,468
Members
21,443
Latest member
sstop28
Top