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 QUESTION: i seen in a previous answer that a walk is treated as a hit. i disagree. on a live ball awarded base, once the runner has touched the base they are then able to be put out if they over run the base they are awarded. there is no reason to run through first on a walk. section 8 on baserunning letter b is a rule i read i thought pertained to this. please correct me if i misinterpreted this rule
ANSWER: Hi Chad,
you mean 8-7-B. When the ball is live and while the runner is not in contact with a base, the runner is legally touched with the ball in the hand(s) of a fielder The key here is legally touched. If you had a gb to F6 throw to 1st, runner beats it and overruns, ball is still live, runner off base, yet we would never call them out on a simple return to the base. On a walk, the batter becomes a batter-runner, and is entitled to all of the same rights as one who becomes a batter-runner by hitting the ball. That means she can overrun first base, just like everyone else
RS 37 OVER-RUNNING FIRST BASE.
After over-running first base, the batter-runner may legally turn to their left or right when returning to the base. If any attempt is made to advance to second base, regardless of whether the runner is in fair or foul territory, they are liable for an appeal out if tagged with the ball by a defensive player while off the base.
The LBR has some other requirements on the b-r overrunning 1st.
Mark
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QUESTION: you did not finish the ruling on 8-7-b it states something about awarded bases. if you read what happens on a walk it states a walk on ball four is an awarded base. therefore overunning an awarded bases on a walk would constitute the option of being put out. there is absolutely no reason to over run first on a walk. simply because there is no liability to be put out.
Answer Hi Chad,
here's 8-7-B. When the ball is live and while the runner is not in contact with a base, the runner is legally touched with the ball in the hand(s) of a fielder.
I don't see anything about awarded bases.
"therefore overunning an awarded bases on a walk would constitute the option of being put out"
I don't think you do but if you mean overrunning by moving toward 2nd you would be correct but the accepted definition of "overrunning" 1st is continuing in a straight line past 1st and then turning right or left in a return to 1st. In that case the b-r on a bb is not liable to be put out the same as a b-r who singled to the outfield or beat out an infield throw. You need to show me the rule that says what you state.
"there is absolutely no reason to over run first on a walk. simply because there is no liability to be put out."
Regardless of how you feel about it I can only repeat what I said earlier....On a walk, the batter becomes a batter-runner, and is entitled to all of the same rights as one who becomes a batter-runner by hitting the ball. That means she can overrun first base, just like everyone else. I have to deal with rules and there is no rule that puts the b-r at risk in this scenario.
