UMPIRES Schedule and "The Right Call"

SR UMPIRE SCHEDULE

Situation:  Runner on 1st.  Ball is hit to outfield.  Middle fielder goes to 2nd hoping to make a play but the ball is still in outfield.  Runner steps on middle fielder's toe which is on the inside corner of 2nd base as he is rounding 2nd base (therefore missing the bag).  Runner stops about 10 feet past 2nd and returns and tags the base.  Runner then turns and runs toward 3rd and is put out in a run down.  The correct call would be obstruction on the middle fielder and award the runner to be safe at 2nd or 3rd if in umpire’s opinion he would have made it to 3rd without obstruction.

Situation: Runner on 2nd and 3rd, one out.  Infield pop up, runner from 3rd leads off, the ball is caught and a throw goes to 3rd to catch him off the base.  The 3rd baseman misses the ball and runner goes home without tagging up.  This must be appealed by a defensive player for the 3rd out or run will score.  The play was completed by the runner being called out (catcher had the ball with foot on the mat) at the plate so no appeal was required.

Fourth Out??:  Can there be a fourth out in an inning?  Well not really.  But here is how it may be thought to happen.  One out, a fly ball is hit to the outfield with runners on 1st and 3rd.  The catch is made and a throw to second base is in time and the runner legally tagging from first to second is tagged out.  That makes 3 outs.  However, in our example, the runner from third left before the ball was touched and scored before the tag at second. 

This would be a dead ball appeal and must be made before the defensive players go into the dugout.  If the appeal is successful, the runner from third is out and the run does not score.  This last out will supersede the apparent third out, thus becoming the recorded third out of the inning.  If the defensive team leaves the playing field before the appeal is made, it is now too late and the run does score. 

Clarification of Veer and Fake Tag Rules

Some issues and concerns have been expressed concerning the "Fake Tag" and the "2nd Base Veer" and the "Foul Tip" rules. Section 1 Rule 1.23 or the "Official Senior Softball-USA Rulebook" states the following:

 A fake tag is a form of obstruction by a fielder who neither has the ball nor is about to receive the ball.  This obstruction impedes the progress of a runner either advancing or returning to a base.  The runner does not have to stop or slide.  Merely slowing down when a fake tag is attempted would constitute obstruction.

If a fielder pretends to be receiving a ball when in reality no ball is coming his way; this would be a form of a "Fake Tag" which might cause a runner to slow or stop.  As the rule states the runner does not have to stop or slide for it to be considered a "Fake Tag".  Those umpiring should be aware of this and be prepared to call.

Now concerning the "2nd Base Veer" rule.  Our supplemental rules states the following:

“Veer Rule” – There will no longer be a “veer rule” at 2nd base. Section IV, Base Running Safety Rules, Paragraph C., will be amended to read: Sliding into 2nd and 3rd base is permitted, as well as sliding back into any base if overrun. When a runner is advancing toward 2nd base they cannot make contact with the defensive player or interfere with the defensive player’s attempt to make a play at 1st. If, in the umpire’s judgement, the runner interferes with and/or obstructs the defensive player’s ability to make a play, then that runner and the runner closest to home will be called “out”. However, if in the umpire’s judgement, a defensive player purposefully moves in a direction that would cause the base runner to make contact, the runner will be called “safe”.

Foul Ball

FOUL BALL- Is a batted ball that:

A. Settles or is touched on or over foul territory between home and first base or home and third base.

B. Bounds or rolls past first or third base on or over foul territory

C. While over foul territory, touches the person, attached equipment or clothing of a player or an umpire, or any object foreign to the natural ground.

D. First hits the ground or is touched over foul territory beyond first or third base. A caught fly ball is not a foul ball.

E. Touches the batter or bat in the batter’s hands a second time while the batter is still inside the confines of the batter’s box.

Rule 8: Section 7 - The Batter is Out

A. When the third strike is swung at and:

a. Missed.

b. Tipped and goes directly from the bat, higher than the batter’s head, to the catcher’s hands or glove and is legally caught by the catcher.