Fresno Senior Softball League: Know the rules
RUNNER HIT BY A BATTED BALL . . . . . .
The question has come up about a runner being hit with a batted ball. Following is the ASA rule on the situation.
Playing rule 8, K (page 91) When a runner is struck with a fair untouched batted ball while not in contact with a base and before it passes another infielder excluding the pitcher, or if it passes an infielder and another fielder has an opportunity to make an out.
Rule 33 A, 1, b states: (page 121) When a runner is hit by a fair batted ball, it is interference if it occurred before the ball passed an infielder (EXCLUDING THE PITCHER), and provided the runner was not in contact with the base. It is interference if the batted ball deflects off one defensive player and runner intentionally interferes with any defensive player who has an opportunity to make an out.
It is more clear in Rule 44 B While not in contact with the base. A runner who is hit by a fair batted ball while not in contact with a base should be called out or ruled safe depending on the interference rule.
Saturday, May 9
BATTER-RUNNR ROUNDING FIRST BASE . . . . .
There seems to be some question about a batter rounding first base and which way he must turn. Below is the ASA rule on the fact.
2009 ASA rule book page 126 of the rule supplement:
Rule 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 runnner 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. Overrunning first base on the look back rule is covered under RS #34.
Thursday, July 12
FOUL BALL OR FOUL TIP?
There seems to still be a lot of confusion as to what is a foul ball and what is a foul tip. Most are under the impression that a foul tip is to be treated as a foul ball and the batter should be out. In fact what they have done is just the opposite of what people seem to think. Last year they change the terminalogy of the rule by deleting the words "not higher than the batter's head." We now judge foul ball regardless of height. We also judge a foul tip regardless of height. In the past, if the ball was over the batters head it was a fould ball, regardless of whether it went sharply and directly from the bat to the catchers hand(s) or glove/mitt/
We now judge it differently, a foul ball will be called when the ball goes directly from the bat to any part of the catcher's body or equipment AND IS CAUGHT BY ANOTHER FIELDER. In this case the batter is out regardless of the height of the ball. A foul tip is a batted ball that goes sharply and directly from the bat to the catcher's hand(s) or glove/mitt.
Many still think the batter is out on a foul tip regardless of the count. They think if the first pitch is a foul tip (caught by the cather) the batter is out. One only needs to look at the difinition of a strike to see that it is not true.
If you read rule 7 - section 4 D you will find the following:
"For each foul tip.
EFFECT: (Fast Pitch/slow pitch with stealing) The ball is live and runners may advance with liability to be put out. THE BATTER IS OUT IF IT IS THE THIRD STRIKE.
1-(Slow Pitch without stealing) The ball is dead and the BATTER IS OUT IF IT IS THE THIRD STRIKE.
Thus the batter is not out if it is the 1st or 2nd strike. Of course it does'nt matter if the catcher catches it or not since it is the 3rd strike.
Wednesday, July 19
BATTERS BOX . . . . . . . . . . .
The BATTER'S BOX. The area to which the batter is restricted when batting.
Rule 2 section 3 C
The batter's box, one on each side of home plate shall measure three feet by seven feet. The inside lines of the batter's box shall be six inches from home plate. The front line of the box shall be four feet in front of a line drawn through the center of the home plate. The lines are considered as being within the batter's box.
Rule 7 section 3 A
Prior to the pitch, the batter must have both feet COMPLETELY within the lines of the batter's box. The batter may touch the lines, BUT NO part of the foot may be outside the lines PRIOR TO THE PITCH.
Rule 7 section 6 THE BATTER IS OUT
D. When an entire foot is touching the ground completely outside the lines of the batter's box when the ball makes contact with the bat.
Friday, March 10
NEW RULES TO BE AWARE OF
Two new rules that are very important for the 2006 season.
1- Line up must be turned in 5 minutes prior to scheduled game time. Teams failing to do so will start their half of the first inning with 1 out.
2- Batter-runners can not be thrown out at first base by an outfielder. The may be thrown out by any infield wether the ball reaches the grass or not.
INFIELD FLY RULE
Definitions:
INFIELD FLY : A fair fly ball (not including a line drive or an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort when first and second base or first, second and third bases are occupied before two are out. Any defensive player who takes a position in the infield at the start of the pitch shall be considered an infielder for the purpose of this rule. The infield fly is ruled when the reaches the highest point based on the position of the closest infileder regardless who makes the play. When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be and infield fly, the umpire shall immediately declare: "Infield Fly." The ball is live and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught. The runners can tag up and advance once the batted ball is touched (prior to catching), the same as on any fly ball. If a declared infield fly becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul. If the ball is caught with an illegal glove see Rule 8, Sec. 7-O.
Illegal or altered bats
There seems to be much discussion about bats of late, but the rules are simple if you know them. Following are the rules for altered or illegal bats. There is a whole section on the Official Bat and you can find it in the ASA Rule Book as RULE 3 "Equiment".
I will highlight some of the important parts for you.
Rule 3 section 1:F "Surface--The official bat shall be smooth with a maximum surface roughness of 0.004 inches. It shall be free of burrs and visible cracks, and shall not have exposed rivets, pins, rough or sharpe edges or any from of exterior fastener that would present a hazard".
Rule 3 section 1:I "Safety knob.--The official bat shall have a Safety Knob of circular or oblong cross section concentric to the bat handle that complies with this rule. The Knob may be molded, lathed, welded, or permantley fastened to the bat, and may be taped as long as there is no violation of this section. The distance from the Safety Grip to the apex of the Knob,Shall not exceed 0.3750 inches. The diameter of the Knob shall be at least 0.5 inches geater than the bat handle diameter including the Grip. The center line of the Knob shall be perpendicular to the center line of the bat. The diameter of the flat region of the Knob adjacent to the Grip shall be at least 0.1250 inches greater than the Flat region of the Knob adjacent to the Grip shall be perpendicular to the center line of the bat within ten (10) degrees".
Rule 3 section 1: J -- Altered Bat -- The official bat shall not be an Altered BAt. The weight, distribution of weight, and the length of the bat as well as all other characteristics of the bat must be permanently fixed at the time of manufacture and may not be altered in any way thereafter, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Rule 3, Section 1, or a specifically approved by the ASA Equipment Testing and Certification Committee.
Under points of Emphasis rule 3 Bat with Dents
In determining whether a bat with a dent should be legal or not, an umpire should utilize his/her bat ring to slide over the barrel of the bat. Should the bat ring continue to slide over the entire barrel, the bat would be legal. If the bat ring will not slide over the barrel, the bat would not be legal, and cannot be used. The intent of this rule is that bats should not have a flat surface where the ball could be hit. If the bat ring is able to slide over the barrel, the dent has not flattened the barrel and would not violate the intent of the rule.
Rule 1 - Definitions
ALTERED BAT -- A bat is considered altered when the physical structure of a legal softball bat has been changed. A "flare" or "cone" grip attached to the bat handle. Inserting material inside the bat, applying excessive tape (more then two layers) to the bat grip or painting a bat other then at the top or bottom for identicication purpose are examples of altering a bat. Replacing the grip with another legal grip is not considered altering the bat. Laser marking for "ID" purposes is not considered atlered. Engraved "ID" marking on the knob end only of a metal bat is not considered altered. Engraved "ID" marking on the barrel end of a metal bat is considered an altered bat.
Hope this helps with a few of the more common problems with the bat rules.
Look forward to more rules in the near future.
Thursday, May 13
Ball beyond the boundry lines
There seems to much confusion about balls that go out of play when thrown by a player. Many people think it is one plus one, some even thing if you are going back to a base that counts as one. Well surprise you all. Below is the proper rule for the overthrown ball that goes out of play.
Rule 8-Section 5:G It reads as follows:
"When the ball is in play and is overthrown (beyond the boundary lines) or is Blocked.
EFFECT: All runners will be awarded TWO bases, and the award will be governed by the positions of the runners WHEN the ball left the fielder's hand."
EXCEPTION:
1- When a fielder loses possession of the ball, such as on an attempted tag, and the ball enters the dead ball area or becomes blocked, each runner is awarded one base from the last base touched at the time the ball entered the dead ball area or became blocked.
2- When the ball becomes dead, runners may return to touch a missed base or base left to soon if they have advanced, touched, and are a base beyond the missed base or the base left too soon. Runners must be given the opportunity to complete their base running responsibility. A runner shall not be declared out if a fielder deliberately carries or throws the ball into dead ball territory to prevent that runner form returning to a missed base or a base left too soon. Once a runner has entered dead ball area, they cannot return to touch a missed base or one left too soon.
3-If the ball becomes blocked due to offensive equipment not involved in the game, the ball is ruled dead and runners are returned to the last base touched at the time of the blocked ball. If the blocked ball prevented the defense from making an out, the runner being played on is called out.
4-If an awarded base is in error, after one pitch is thrown (legal or illegal) the error cannot be corrected.
Definition of BLOCKED ball.
A blocked ball is a batted or thrown ball that is touched, stopped or handled by a person not engaged in the game, or which touches any object that is not part of the official equipment, or official playing area. A thrown ball touching a base coach accidentally (in or out of the coach's box) during a play, is not a blocked ball.
