We had a play occur in our senior softball game last Thursday which I cannot find a rule that explains the proper call.
Two runners are on when the batter hits a long single. The lead runner attempts to score so there is a play at the plate. A good throw comes in and the runner is out by two steps.
Immediately after the out call is made at the plate the catcher naturally steps off the plate to check the runners at 3rd and 1st to keep them from advancing or straying too far off their base.
However, unbeknownst to the catcher, the runner behind the player who was just thrown out at the plate is just two steps behind that lead runner! When the lead runner was thrown out at the plate, the next runner was passed the commitment line. I do not know whether that is relevant.
What is the call on the second runner at the plate?
The offensive team claims that since the catcher pulled his foot off the plate after the initial call, the second runner should be called safe at the plate.
The defensive team contends that since both runners were passed the commitment line that the out call at the plate applies to both runners.
Again, I could not find anything in the rules that describes a proper call in this situation.
What should the appropriate call be?
Thanks!
call apply's to both once the second runner has gone past the commitment line....doesn't matter if the plate is touched accidentally or not....just needs to be touched....so when the catcher was still on the plate when said 2nd runner passed the comit line...he should be out....
now if the second runner hadn't made the comit line and the catcher comes off the plate....than the catcher needs to go back and touch the plate before 2nd runner scores....
Craig, obviously the first runner, I'll call player A, is out. If the catcher had possession of the ball and maintained contact with the plate when the second runner, I'll call player B, crossed the commit line, player B is out. Hence, in your scenario both runners are out.
We concur ... Double play
I think it's time to get a new 3rd base coach...lol
The Rule is from what I've been told over and over. If a play like that happens, Runner A is out. Runner B would be safe. For runner B to be called out, the Catcher MUST take his foot OFF the plate and re-touch the plate before Runner B scores. Each play is a separate play.
Bill B - We respectfully disagree. This hypothetical circumstance is ONE PLAY, since there is no intervening dead ball situation. The play results in two put-outs for a double play. There is no analogous situation in the baseball rules, and the SSUSA Official Rulebook at §8.9(1) at page 50 does NOT impose the defender's requirement you assert as to multiple contacts with the strike mat, one for each base-runner who may be involved. If the defender possesses the ball AND is in contact with the strike mat, our interpretation is that any runner(s) who have passed the commitment line shall be declared out. Any other interpretation is inconsistent with the specific language of the rule.
