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Online now: 5 members: Dgroom, Neubes, Wagon6203, gts9, todd forsten; 15 anonymousDiscussion: umpire interference
| Posted | Discussion |
| July 7 KEP 2 posts | How would you rule this? After a hit, the batter rounds 1st and heads for 2nd, but runs into the umpire, then returns to 1st base. The umpire awarded the runner 2nd and said that he had interfered with the runner so he should be granted 2nd. There is not a rule that I can find that would award the runner 2nd. Generally the ump is part of the field, but I cannot find that in the rules either. What do you think? |
| July 7 SSUSA Staff 3505 posts | KEP - The SSUSA Rulebook does not address this specific fact pattern, but we believe the umpire made an incorrect call. In cases like this one, where the SSUSA Rulebook is silent, we defer to the ASA Rulebook. Umpire's Interference, for purposes of slowpitch softball, is generally limited to batted ball situations and not applicable to a batter-runner making contact with an umpire while running the bases. We believe that ASA Rulebook ยง8.1.E.7 governs: If a batted ball strikes an umpire before passing a fielder (other than the pitcher), there is a dead ball and the batter is awarded first base. Other runners on base at the time are returned to their original base unless forced to advance to allow the batter-runner to occupy first. Presuming the batter-runner was legally within the basepath, the real question revolves around the umpire's lack of proper positioning and mechanics that caused him to be in the way. We would rule "the result of the play", which in this instance was the batter-runner voluntarily returning to first base, and we would not have awarded second base. |
| July 7 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Agree with you on that--the umpire is really part of the field which makes it a non-happening occurrance if you run into him. I don't believe you can award him 2nd because of it. You cannot penalize the defensive team in this instance.Why was he there? |
| July 8 KEP 2 posts | Thank You for your opinions. The umpire was out of position, but it cost us a run and eventually the game in extra innings. |
| July 9 stick8 1992 posts | KEP that is absolutely wrong!! The umpire is part of the field. In that situation it's the result of the play. I've never heard of "umpire interference". If the runner ran into the firstbaseman and then continued to second base then you have interference. |
