Any Little League Umpires...Please help...

[rrc]

Situation...

Men on first and third, one out.

Batter hits ground ball to the 2nd baseman who is playing normal depth. As he comes up to field the ball the HOME PLATE UMPIRE calls interference on our runner for getting in the way.

Seems like it should have been the base umps call. However that's not the main problem.

According to the "green book" it says the play is now dead. The ump allows play to continue and they get the batter out at first for a double play.

Can a play possibly continue when the play is dead? Shouldn't the runner on third (who scored) be sent back and the batter be sent back to bat?

How can a play continue when it is supposed to be dead? :shrug:

We protested the game (it was our league's semi-final) and will hear back today.

Any insight would be GREATLY APPRECIATED.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Been a long time since I sported the BLUE, but I think you are "mostly" correct. Play is dead, but the batter gets first, man on third returns to third, boy going to 2nd is out. Next batter!

Let me know, when you find out.

Good luck.

 

[Captain Crunch]

I coach girls softball, and although many of the rules are the same, I know some are different. I can't remember the exact situations with the base runners, but several times in the last few years, we have had interference called in one of our games, both times by the umpire in the field. When the interference occured, the umpire would lift one of his arms straight up in the air and not say a word and hold it there until that play had ended, BUT PLAY WAS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE. When the play had ended, they would then call out the interference and award extra bases or call runners out depending on the situation.

Don't know if the interference calls are the same in baseball and softball, but I am positive play was allowed to continue and the umpires called it exactly the same in both situations.

 

[rrc]

Still awaiting the protest decision.

 

[ctownguy]

When interference is called the ball is dead and the batter runner goes to 1st and runner at third stays there with the base runner causing the interference is called out.

Play only continues on an obstruction call, that is when a defensive player in the field impedes the base runner.

Hope this helps.

 

[ctownguy]

Let me add this, if in the umpire's judgment the interference was caused to stop the double play the batter runner can also be called out at first, due to the intentional interference to stop the double play.

 

[Keyser Soze]

That's what I thought it was, just had been sometime since I had actually had to use my Little League Noggin'.

 

[danmurphy jr]

The Runner is Out. Umpires do not stop play. That runner is Out.
Plain and Simple. Every thing else stands, runner on 3rd scores, double play is completed

 

[rrc]

They upheld our protest. From what I understand we are going to pick the game up from that point. The runner on third stays at third. The runner who interfered is out.

They have not told us if the batter will be given first or sent back to bat. I hope it is like ctown said and he is awarded first.

The umpire did admit he blew the call by allowing the play to continue. He also said that the interference was not done on purpose to break up a potential double play.

Thanks to all that chimed in.

 

[SixFive]

suprising they upheld, wrong or right. Hope you bring it home! GL!

 

[ctownguy]

GL rrc and make sure the let the batter runner take first.

 

[JOSHNAUDI]

good call ctownguy

I've only had one time I've used the double play interference call and banged both runner and batter.

I'm heading to cooperstown to call at the dream park for a week 7/7 thru 7/15. 12 yr olds. 1st trip to the hall and should be a blast.
http://www.cooperstowndreamspark.com/umpire.html

until then we have pony tourney's the next 2 weeks.

 

[rrc]

Thanks again guys.

 

[rrc]

Thanks again guys.

Just heard from the umpire-in-chief that the batter/runner will get first base.

 

[rrc]

Won the protested game after being down 4-1.

Final score..good guys 6-5

 

[MonkeyPants]

wtg rrc :grins:

Glad to hear that they took the time and got the call right!

Best of luck to your boys in the finals.

 

[kksuited]

I don't get exactly what happened here. I understand the play, but....

You were down 4-1, lost the game, protested one call, they let you go back and play the game from that point on, then you won the game?

If that's what happened that's f'ing lame IMO.

Calls get missed, that's part of the game. How many calls have you seen missed in the Major's? Missed where they didn't get the rule right. There's been plenty.

How many games have you seen replayed at a later date?

I just have to laugh at some parents. I've coached and the things you hear from parents are unreal.

Please clarify the situation if I'm wrong.

 

[SixFive]

I can't believe it was replayed either. Wish I and my teams could have gone back and replayed some games where we got dicked, lol! Congrats to the boys on winning.

 

[Keyser Soze]

KKSuited...............

There's a big difference between screwing up a judgement call, and screwing up a rule! No, you haven't seen replays of rules that were incorrect, you saw calls that were incorrect. Even the Major Leagues have the opportunity to protest a game for these same reasons. What's lame is ripping someone when you don't even know what you are talking about, but then again, when I see 30 posts, I am sure it won't be the last time either!

Congrats again RRC. Continued good luck.

 

[ripken8]

the only question I have is why the play wasn't corrected on the field. especially in a league's semi-final game. all coaches have rule books, the ideal situation would be to stop, look up the rule and get it right. I know in any tournament games we had, (I coached over ten years) there were protest committees on site to oversee any complaints. glad it turned out right, just wish it wouldn't have taken a few days to get there...