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Now that the season has officially kicked off, this forum topic is available for all players and umpires to be able to ask any question regarding any game situations and/or rulings which you would like clarification on.
Over the past 20 years, numerous revisions to the rules have been made in particular with ball and bat types, baserunning, double base and interference/obstruction calls. Just keeping up with these changes is task unto itself. We feel that the more information regarding slo-pitch and our league rules will help foster a better understanding of the game amongst everyone.
Marshall Lee
Umpire-in-Chief
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DOUBLE BASE
A few questions have come to my attention regarding the ruling about the double base at first so I thought I would post the official wording from the rules.
The DOUBLE BASE is mandatory for use at first base.
The following rules apply to the Double Base:
A. If a batted ball hits ANY PART of the white portion, it is a fair ball and if it hits COMPLETELY on the orange portion, it is a foul ball.
B. If a play is made to first base, the batter-baserunner's first attempt to reach first base must be to touch some portion or all of the orange base. If he touches only the white base in these situations, he is to be called out.
C. A defensive player must use only white or some portion of it at all times. If he touches only the orange, it is the same as not touching the white at all: missed base.
D. If the batter-baserunner touches on all of or part of the orange base and a portion of the white, it is a legal touch, or, if the defensive player touches a portion of the white and a part of the orange, it is a legal touch.
E. Once a batter-baserunner has attained first base, he must use only the white portion of the base. This includes:
1. After over-running first base, or after rounding first base, if applicable, and the baserunner decides not to advance further, he must return to the white portion.
2. After over-running first base, or after rounding first base, if applicable, and the baserunner touched only the orange portion and decides to advance further, he need not retouch the white portion.
3. When tagging up, the baserunner must use the white portion.
4. When there is an attempted pick-off play, the baserunner must return to the white portion.
EFFECT: E 1-4 If the baserunner uses only the orange portion at any time after the first attempt at first base and is not in contact with any part of the white portion, then he is considered to be out of contact with the base and is to be called out if tagged or leads off.
Just for further clarification, if there is no apparent play at first, the batter-baserunner may touch either white or orange. |
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TAGGING UP
There has been some confusion when a runner can leave the base after a pop fly has been caught. Years ago, it was exactly that. The runner could not leave until the ball was 'caught' otherwise they would have to tag up.
A few years ago, the rules were changed to allow a runner to leave once the ball was 'touched'. This change was necessary because some fielders could actually hold the runner on base by bobbling the ball in their glove and walking it into infield and then officially making the 'catch'. No longer.
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BALL DECLARED OUT OF PLAY - BASES AWARDS
Once again, some confusion about how many bases runners are awarded when a ball is batted or thrown out of play.
The answer is 2 in both cases.
If the ball is batted, then each runner and the batter are awarded two bases each.
If the ball is thrown, then each runner is awarded two bases from the last base touched at the time of the throw. The rule even works for the batter-baserunner, say when the ball is thrown out of play from shortstop to first. The batter-baserunner has not yet touched first at the time of the throw thus he/she is entitled to first and second base. |
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Today I was asked whether a batter-runner who is verbally abusing the first baseman as he is running to first, ie. he is yelling ya-ya-ya-ya-ya to distract the baseman is interference.
The answer is yes. Interference does not mean that 'physical' contact was made. Interference can be both both physical or verbal.
The batter-runner is out for interference.
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