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 We had a play the other night where there was one out and runner on first (R1). Batter swung and missed 3rd strike, and catcher drops ball. Hitter runs to first and catcher overthrows first. R1 scores on overthrow and hitter goes to second.
Umpire calls hitter out and allows runner to score.
In postings on this site, in similar circumstances, other experts have said hitter interferred by running to first (I guess by deceiving the catcher) so run shouldn't score on dead ball. R1 to go back to 1st. Other's have said hitter didn't interfer but was obviously out, and R1 should score.
Which is it?
Answer Hi David,
The batter is out because they struck out, that doesn't change. Umpire should have been forceful with a "batter out" when she started to run to 1st. The ball continues to be live. The batter cannot be called out for interference because of the D3K exception.
The defense is expected to know the situation. This is called a DMC (dumb move catcher) as there is no reason to throw the ball to 1st.
since the ball is live R1 can get all they can on the overthrow.
