AboutDr. Mark R. Ambrose 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)
Question I play in a softball league and had an interesting play tonight. There were no outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd. The batter hit a ground ball which hit the runner on 2nd while he was still in contact with 2nd base. The umpire did not declare the runner that was struck out because he said he the runner was still on the base. I umpire high school baseball which uses the NFHS rule book and I believe the runner to be out regardless of him being on the base or not in this situation. If the batter hits a fly ball that strikes a runner he is not out because he is protected on a fly ball but he is not protected on a ground ball in NFHS. Is this rule different in ASA? Thank you very much, Luke DeBoer
Answer Hi Luke,
The way I understand it, in the game they play w/ that small ball you would be correct HOWEVER in ASA softball, not so.
A runner on base struck w/ a fair batted ball is never out unless they intentionally interfere with the ball. What we have if the closest defensive player is in front of the base..a live ball and we play on. If the closest defensive player is behind the base (almost always in SP)..a dead ball, b-r awarded 1st and other runners advance only if forced.
