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 In an ASA game, pitcher pitches ball that gets past the catcher and gets stuck under the bottom of the backstop. Runner is already going to second on passed ball. Should the runner be awarded 2nd (last legally held base was 1st) or 3rd? Or no award at all, just the stolen base? And is it a dead ball if the ball is technically in the field of play but can't be retrieved?
The ump awarded 3rd but I always thought the award was based on when the ball left the fielder/pitcher's hand and was based on the last legally held base.
Thanks! Doug
Answer Hi Doug,
This is ASA 8-5-C. (Fast Pitch and Slow Pitch with stealing) runners are entitled to advance w/out liability.... When a pitched ball that remains live becomes blocked or goes out of live ball territory.
EFFECT: The ball is dead and runners are awarded one base only. The
batter is awarded first base only on the fourth ball.
