Here is a play that has happened twice during this past HS season. The picture of this play shows the catcher straddling the third-base line in a position to receive the ball. The runner from third is running down the third-base line within two steps of catcher and is actually beginning to go into slid to home. The runner slid into the left leg of the catcher as the catcher caught the ball. The home plate umpire called the runner out. My understanding of the obstruction rule is that the catcher here is clearly blocking the runners' path to the plate without the ball and should have been called for obstruction. In NFHS rules, should obstruction have been called here?
Also, if the runner had been closer to the third-base fence and had an angle at the back of the plate would it be the catchers' obstruction with the catcher in the current position of stradling the baseline?
Also, if the runner had been closer to the third-base fence and had an angle at the back of the plate would it be the catchers' obstruction with the catcher in the current position of stradling the baseline?