Expert: Andrew Senger - 6/30/2010

Question
In American Legion Baseball, runner on first base, trys to steal second, umpire calls balk. Catcher not hearing balk call,throws to second. Ball gets by second baseman,runner keeps running and scores.Is the ball dead on the balk call or because the catcher throws the ball is it alive and does the run counts?

Answer
Tom,

There are two possibilities, depending on what ruleset your American Legion is playing under.

If they are playing under NFHS (Fed) rules, then the ball was dead immediately at the time of the balk. The runner at first would be sent to second and the pitch doesn't count.

If the league is playing under OBR rules, then the ball was alive at the time of the pitch. The rules state that the balk is ignored if the batter reached first base AND all runners advanced one base during the outcome of the pitch. In your situation, the batter did not obtain first base. Therefore, all the runner would be allowed is second base.

Essentially, both rulesets ended with the same awards. However, it was possible (through a batter's hit, for example) for something to occur in an OBR-based league.