Situation: No one on base. Batter hits a dribbler in front of the plate. Catcher picks it up and starts to chase the batter who is running next to but not in the 1B running lane and is directly between the catcher and first baseman. After a second or or so she realized she could not catch the batter/runner so the catcher stops and intentionally throws the ball(pretty hard) down and right into the batter/runners legs causing the batter/runner to fall into the running lane as she was approaching 1B and was about to enter the lane. The ball rolls out of play. What is the correct call?
Intentionally throwing at a base runner
- Thread starter NBECoach
- Start date
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- Jun 8, 2016
- 16,118
- 113
Out...wait this isn’t kickball is it?
If you judge it to be intentional, coach, you need a new catcher because this one isnt playing in this game any longer.
Not sure by your description of play, but the running lane doesnt start until 1/2 way to first. If the runner wasnt to the lane yet there isnt any chance of it being a running lane violation. Even if the runner was to the running lane but not in it the throw must still be a quality throw that could be caught by the defender covering first in order to be a lane violation. But, if as you said this was intentionally thrown at the batter/runner then the catcher isnt playing anymore in that game.
Not sure by your description of play, but the running lane doesnt start until 1/2 way to first. If the runner wasnt to the lane yet there isnt any chance of it being a running lane violation. Even if the runner was to the running lane but not in it the throw must still be a quality throw that could be caught by the defender covering first in order to be a lane violation. But, if as you said this was intentionally thrown at the batter/runner then the catcher isnt playing anymore in that game.
- Oct 26, 2019
- 1,392
- 113
It’s either “peg below the waist” or “pitchers hand poison”. She’s out either way!
@Comp: While I agree with the ruling you make, I would question the use of 'quality throw' when you will undoubtedly have to discuss this with the HC. I suggest rather that (at least in NFHS would need to check the other codes) the you explain that runner did not "interfere with the fielder taking the throw at first base".
Nope, not out, RLI would not apply.
- Jun 8, 2016
- 16,118
- 113
He was joking....
Just clarifying....
The running lane rule in every ruleset requires the interference to be with the ability of the defense to receive the throw at first base. A ball thrown over the head of the defender, thrown off line or thrown in the dirt is not exactly a catchable ball, so how could the runner have interfered with the ability of the defense to receive the throw. And, if you research the case plays governing the running lane they all indicate the throw must be catchable. I would have no problem telling the coach the throw must be a quality throw and I can back that up with case plays.
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