Safety bag

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Jul 28, 2008
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USSSA has no exception for a throw pulling the fielder onto the orange portion of the base. On the initial force out attempt of a batter runner, the defense must use the white portion of the base, unless the throw is coming from foul territory.

USSSA rule book. Rule 8.19.B
Exceptions:
The defense and batter runner can use either portion when:
1. The ball is thrown from the foul side of first base line.
2. An errant or missed throw pulls the defensive player into foul
ground.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
From the 2012 USSSA rule book, copied and pasted.

Sec 19. Double First Base
The Double First Base shall consist of a base in fair territory that is white in
color and a base in foul territory that is colored.
A. A batted ball hitting or bounding over any part of the white portion is
declared fair. A batted ball hitting or bounding over only the colored
portion is declared foul.
B. Whenever a play is being made on the batter-runner, the defense must use
the white portion and the batter-runner the colored portion.
1. If the batter-runner touches only the white portion when there is a
play being made at first base, it is treated the same as missing the
base. The batter-runner is out providing the defense appeals prior to
the batter-runner returning to first base. Once the runner returns to the
white or colored portion, no appeal can be made.
2. If the defense touches only the colored portion, it is treated the same
as being off the base.
Exceptions: The defense and batter runner can use either portion when:
1. The ball is thrown from the foul side of first base line.
2. on any force out attempt from the foul side of first base.
C. If there is a force play by an infielder on the batter-runner, who touches
only the white portion and collides with the fielder about to catch a thrown
ball while on the white, Interference is ruled.
Penalty: The ball is dead, the batter-runner is out, and all other runners
are returned to the base last occupied at the time of interference.
D. When no play is being attempted at first base, the batter-runner may touch
the white or colored base.
E. After the batter-runner initially reaches first base, the runner and any
fielder may use the white or colored base. This shall include but is not
limited to:
1. The runner returning to first base.
2. The runner tagging up on a fly ball.
3. The fielder making a play on a returning runner.

The 2012 rule book no longer has any exception for a throw pulling the fielder off onto the colored portion of the base. I also attended a USSSA rules clinic a few months back where this was specifically covered and is no longer in the rule book.
 
Jul 28, 2008
1,088
0
I stand corrected. I thought I updated my rule book, but I was going off of the 2011. It looks like they changed it for 2012. :)

Did they say why they changed it during your rules clinic?
 
Mar 22, 2010
128
28
So if on a pickoff attempt to 1B (ASA rules) the runner misses the white portion completely and lands on orange section (assuming she is otherwise safe) is fine? Had an ump call a girl out on this last week.
 
Oct 24, 2010
308
28
So if on a pickoff attempt to 1B (ASA rules) the runner misses the white portion completely and lands on orange section (assuming she is otherwise safe) is fine? Had an ump call a girl out on this last week.
She's fine. It's one big base except for a play on the batter-runner.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
So if on a pickoff attempt to 1B (ASA rules) the runner misses the white portion completely and lands on orange section (assuming she is otherwise safe) is fine? Had an ump call a girl out on this last week.


Speaking ASA, the specifics of a double base only apply to a play on a batter-runner. In all other cases, the base is the base, 30" X 15".
 
Jul 5, 2011
55
0
Exceptions: The defense and batter runner can use either portion when:
1. The ball is thrown from the foul side of first base line.

I assume that in regards to the area behind home plate "the foul side of the first base line" is defined as anything on the 1B side of an imaginary line drawn from the 1B side of home plate to the backstop? In other words, if, on a dropped third strike the ball gets behind the catcher, she can't throw to a player covering the safety bag unless she's on the 1B side of that imaginary line?

I hope that made sense.
 

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