HS Varsity, NFHS/CIF rules:
We are the visiting team. At the plate meeting, umpire points out the decently-sized tree growing in left-field foul territory. It has about 3 trunks growing out at odd angles, none of which infringe onto fair territory. A ball hit down the line could conceivably end up hitting the tree, and so could a mis-thrown ball to 3B. Umpire then turns to me to ask how I want it to be called if the ball hits the tree.
His specific question was, "If the ball hits the tree, do you want me to kill it, or play on?" By "kill it" I assumed he meant treat it as a blocked ball, so that is what I chose (I didn't want my F7 crashing headlong into the tree trying to retrieve a ball). He then said to tell our girls to run hard because he'll give them the next base depending on where they are when it hits the tree.
1) Wouldn't this be a blocked ball and thus be subject to whichever rule governs the situation which led to the blocked ball?
2) If not a blocked ball, shouldn't the home team establish the ground rules at their field?
3) Was his blanket application of "give you the next base" for all blocked ball situations arising from hitting the tree correct?
We are the visiting team. At the plate meeting, umpire points out the decently-sized tree growing in left-field foul territory. It has about 3 trunks growing out at odd angles, none of which infringe onto fair territory. A ball hit down the line could conceivably end up hitting the tree, and so could a mis-thrown ball to 3B. Umpire then turns to me to ask how I want it to be called if the ball hits the tree.
His specific question was, "If the ball hits the tree, do you want me to kill it, or play on?" By "kill it" I assumed he meant treat it as a blocked ball, so that is what I chose (I didn't want my F7 crashing headlong into the tree trying to retrieve a ball). He then said to tell our girls to run hard because he'll give them the next base depending on where they are when it hits the tree.
1) Wouldn't this be a blocked ball and thus be subject to whichever rule governs the situation which led to the blocked ball?
2) If not a blocked ball, shouldn't the home team establish the ground rules at their field?
3) Was his blanket application of "give you the next base" for all blocked ball situations arising from hitting the tree correct?