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About Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I can answer all questions about book rules and "case book" rules governing the playing of ASA softball. Have a REAL situation that happened and are not sure the proper rule was applied, ask me.

Experience
I am a registered ASA umpire, a MASA "At-Large" umpire since 1996 and a retired District Umpire-In-Chief. I have very extensive experience in MASA State Championship and ASA national qualifying tournament play both as an umpire and an Umpire-In-Chief. I completed 3 ASA National Schools including the ASA national advanced umpire school in Ok City("Bernie" for those who know him was the lead clinician, I survived the week and couldn't let my kids watch the game tapes when I got home. No, I love you Bernie). I was one of 4 "Yankee" umpires selected to umpire the Men's D National East Championship in 2002 in Winter Haven FL

Organizations
Amateur Softball Association (The authority in softball)

   

You are here:  Experts > Sports > Softball > Softball

SubjectDate AskedExpert

Outs in softball11/6/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Man at first and second with no outs - ground ball to the shortstop. Shortstop fields the ball, ...
  A: Anxiously sending you my answer... 1) if they step on 2nd FIRST, R2 (coming from 1st) is out, R1 if ...
Pitcher in the Basepath11/5/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Ambrose, I play in a coed slow pitch softball league. The team we played against last night had its ...
  A: this should answer it, you might want to print it out, that umpire doesn't understand obstruction in ...
rule11/4/2009Tom Mielke
  Q: What is the result(s) if a fielder intentionally throws his/her glove at a fly ball. And either hits ...
  A: Throwing the glove at the ball and not hitting it is nothing. Throw the glove and hitting it is a ...
Pitching11/3/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: We have a girl in ou 12U division with a very unusal style of pitching. It's hard to explain but I ...
  A: no pause or holding for any amount of time is required nor is in front of the body a requirement. ...
Pitching Rules11/2/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Our league uses the 11" ball for girls and 12" ball for guys, and the other pitcher and i have some ...
  A: Well I must admit I've never seen this and I don't think I would like it too well as far as the ...
Batter interference11/1/2009Tom Mielke
  Q: Age: 12U; Situation: R1 on 3rd base, pitch to B1 is made. B1 turns to look at 3rd base coach, ...
  A: I've got nothing on this as well. The batter did what they would normally do. The batter didn't ...
is this interference10/29/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Pitched ball was supposedly misplayed by catcher and bounced off backstop onto field. Third strike ...
  A: This is interference, dead ball, b-r is out and all others return to the last base touched at the ...
Obstruction10/28/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Just read a post in which you said going to receive the ball was taken out of ASA rules. My ...
  A: "I have had a stealing runner collide in the baseline between second and first with a defensive ...
Rain Out10/28/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Good morning. I have a question regarding rain outs. I play in a slow pitch D+ mens league and ...
  A: If you play by ASA rules and don't have a local over-ride rule on this.....you re-start the game at ...
Obstuction10/27/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Umpire calls obstuction on the ss and the runner is thrown out at home. Ump rules the runner was ...
  A: "I thought you advance at your own risk."....sometimes.... see below By rule an obstructed runner ...
Scoring10/23/2009Tom Mielke
  Q: I look at the following two questions as describing the same situation. One runner on first and a ...
  A: I believe that I answered the first one correctly. The second one depends. What is the reason for ...
Fielders Choice or Hit?10/22/2009Tom Mielke
  Q: in official ASA and NCAA softball scoring, is below situationn automatically scored a fielders ...
  A: Charles, That is fielder's choice all the way. The batter doesn't get a hit when a preceding ...
Obstruction?10/20/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: A baserunner is stealing but because she is looking toward home plate she inadvertently strays well ...
  A: Obstruction is a judgment call, our umpire manual tells us that simply because there is a collision ...
at bat question10/19/2009Tom Mielke
  Q: outfielder touches, but does not catch. Girl is safe at first base. Does this count as an at bat? ...
  A: In other words is this an error? This is a judgement call by the scorekeeper. Just because the ...
Infield Fly Rule10/16/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Had a player from a team really get mad last night on a call that I made. I am new to ASA umpiring, ...
  A: here's the def....INFIELD FLY: A fair fly ball, not including a line drive or an attempted bunt ...
Signs to Pitchers10/15/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: During an ASA youth softball game, an illegal pitch was called on a pitcher because the coach gave ...
  A: the only requirement is that the pitcher be on the pitcher's plate w/ hands separated and take or ...
Runner struck by batted ground ball10/15/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: I play in a softball league and had an interesting play tonight. There were no outs and runners on ...
  A: The way I understand it, in the game they play w/ that small ball you would be correct HOWEVER in ...
batting out of order10/12/2009Tom Mielke
  Q: Suppose the batting order is Mary, Jane, then Debbie. No one is on base. Jane bats and singles to ...
  A: Cynthia I your situation Mary is called out for failure to bat and Jane is removed from first base. ...
Force Out Ruling10/12/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Here's the situation from a recent game. Runners on 1st base and 2nd base, no outs. Batter hits a ...
  A: before a play was made at 1st R2 was no longer legally entitled to it but there is no rule that they ...
rule interpretation10/12/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Please clarify correct ruling for the following and please consider how the ruling changes with ...
  A: In the thousands and thousands of innings I've umpired I've never seen this happen...where F1 has a ...
first base double bag10/11/2009Tom Mielke
  Q: is it up to the firstbaseman to choose to use the orange(runners)bag if the ball carries on a play ...
  A: Essentially yes. If the play is coming from foul territory, F3 should set up on the orange side of ...
overthrows10/10/2009Tom Mielke
  Q: When a player is stealing a base , and the ball is overthrown or dropped ( but stays in play ) , ...
  A: Unless you have a local rule implemented limiting the number bases that can be taken on a overthrow, ...
rule interpretation10/9/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Please clarify correct ruling for the following and please consider how the ruling changes with ...
  A: If the pitcher had no play w/ ordinary effort I would have obstruction. However if the ball is ...
Advancing a base10/8/2009Tom Mielke
  Q: Girl on first and one batter. The batter hits the ball in the outfield. Girl on first goes to second ...
  A: It depends on where the runner was when the throw was made. Other than on a pitch, when I thrown ...
tipped ball10/6/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Situation: 14u ASA softball Batter has two strikes She swings at pitch and makes contact with the ...
  A: I had the Fed stuff handy, ASA is the same 1. If the ball moves DIRECTLY to the catcher's ...
girls high school softball10/6/2009Tom Mielke
  Q: Good morning sir, Do virginia high schools play under usssa or asa for bat rule purposes
  A: James, All schools that play under NFHS rules use the ASA banned bat list. Some of those hot bats ...
What constitutes "control"?10/2/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: ASA Co-Rec game: Runners at 1st and 2nd, two outs. Ground ball to short, tosses to 3rd base for ...
  A: My opinion is based on ASA 8-7-c the runner is out... "When, on a force play, a fielder contacts ...
Hitting a pitch that bounces (ASA)10/1/2009Tom Mielke
  Q: Can a batter in ASA softball legally strike and hit a pitch that bounces? ANSWER: Yes they can. ...
  A: I can't, there isn't one. There isn't one that says you can't hit it either. A pitch that hits the ...
courtesy runner10/1/2009Tom Mielke
  Q: what is the rule for courtesy runner in the same inning. believe the rule book states the last out ...
  A: Both ASA and high school. The courtesy runner must be a player that has not been in the game. If a ...
Intentional Droped Fly Ball9/30/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Men's D league slow-pitch softball. 1 out, runner on first base. Batter hits a pop-up to 2nd ...
  A: Some orgs have different definitions of an intentionally dropped ball. In ASA the defense must ...
inside fly ball9/30/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: My grand-daughter played softball last night and the empire called the runner out on a fly ball that ...
  A: it's called the "infield fly rule" and it's meant to protect the offense from cheap double or triple ...
runner on base hit by batted ball9/30/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Sir: In looking the the rules supplement for the asa umpires manual.I came across a strange (to me ...
  A: "It was my understanding that a runner on a base is out if hit by a batted ball except for when ...
Dropped 2nd Strike9/30/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Dr. Ambrose, No I didn't mistakenly type the subject. What's the rule for this situation with a ...
  A: yes this happens every now and then. We put the batter back at bat w/ the previous count and ...
Ejecting players9/30/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: What guidance does the ASA rule book give on when and HOW TO eject player(s)? Recently, our league ...
  A: Obviously it's the individual umpires judgment as to how much they will let go on. As an umpire ...
runner on base hit by batted ball9/29/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Sir: In looking the the rules supplement for the asa umpires manual.I came across a strange (to me ...
  A: A runner hit by a fair batted ball while off the base is 1 set of rules. A runner hit by a fair ...
Slow pitch9/28/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Runner on third %26 first, batter hits the third base runner standing on the base, ball lands in ...
  A: F5 plays 3rd, correct. The ball can hit a runner standing on a base and be a foul ball. If the ...
Tag play 3rd out9/28/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: 1 down, runners on first and third. Fly ball to outfield caught for 2nd out, runner on first did ...
  A: you are correct, this is a "timing" play and NOT a "force out". By rule the run would count if it ...
Slow pitch9/28/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: Runner on third %26 first, batter hits the third base runner standing on the base, ball lands in ...
  A: This assumes the ball hit R1 in fair territory, otherwise it's just a foul ball. In SP the closest ...
Batter advancing after a walk (BB)9/27/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: After receiving a walk, can the batter keeping running to second base, even though the pitcher has ...
  A: The fact that the pitcher has the ball in the circle does not prevent a b-r from advancing on a ...
Is it a dropped 3rd strike9/27/2009Dr. Mark R. Ambrose
  Q: In womens division of ASA FP softball we had a pitcher that released the ball to early or it slipped ...
  A: The umpire is absolutely correct, this is a D3K situation. The rule is NOT if the catcher "drops" ...

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