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Baseball Instruction/Little League ruling play at home plate

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Expert: - 7/9/2009


Question
3rd base-runner in a pickle, running home.  3rd baseman has the ball running the runner toward home plate.  The catcher is straddling the baseline 4ft off the home plate toward 3rd base. The runner collides with the catcher, the catcher does have the ball at this point but for a tenth of a second.  The runner is ejected from the game.  I understand the ruling should the catcher have been at the plate, however, if the catch is that far from home plate should the runner have been ejected?  And, should the catcher be penalized for blocking the baseline? Thank you.

Answer
Doug,

The runner was probably ejected because he made no attempt to avoid contact.  This is a judgement call on the umpires part, and since I was not there, I can not tell you if I would have ejected or not.

You state that the catcher had possession of the ball prior to contact (no matter how long they have possession), so that catcher had every right to be in the base path of that runner.  The rule says they must be in possession of the ball to block the progress of the runner, which seems to be the case here.

I hope this has helped.

-Martin Hoover

Baseball Instruction

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Martin Hoover

Expertise

Questions regarding the Rules and Regulations of Little League Baseball and Softball. Questions regarding the history and organization of Little League Baseball at local, state, regional, and international levels. Advise regarding certain operational procedures and recommendations to Local League representatives.

Experience

Volunteer Little League Umpire since 2000; 2003 Little League, Junior League, Senior League and Big League Softball European Regional Umpire; 2005 Little League Softball Western Regional Umpire; Member- Hesperia National(Hesperia, CA) Little League Board of Directors(2003-2004); President- Hesperia National Little League Board of Directors(2005-Present); 2007 Junior Softball Western Regional Umpire

Organizations
Little League Baseball, Inc is the main operational center. I fall under Little League Western Region, and California District 49. I currently serve as President of the Hesperia National Little League Board of Directors.

Education/Credentials
Western Regional Junior Umpire School(2000)(Named Outstanding Junior Umpire of the Western Region Area); Instructor - Little League Baseball Western Regional Outreach Clinics

Awards and Honors
Outstanding Junior Umpire of the Western Regional Area(2000)

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