Dropped 3rd, catcher hits runner.

[Lobster Birch]

So, I saw this in the game adjacent to the field my DDs were playing on - dropped 3rd strike, catcher picks up the ball, throws and hit the runner, who is in fair territory, in the legs. Ball bounces back towards catcher and as runner reaches first the field umpire calls her safe. The home plate umpire then signals out, ending the game. Is this the right call?

 

[flash277]

Well, it depends on where the runner is, if she is more than halfway to 1st and not in the running lane, then she would be out for interference., if she was less than halfway, it's a live ball, and she would be safe. Although there could be an argument that if she was halfway down the line, a throw at the legs would not be an accurate throw to 1st therefore she would not be interfering with the throw.

 

[EdLovrich]

need to be there to know for sure, but RLI IS a possibility

 

[Crabby_Bob]

Title had me thinking ejection.

 

[Lobster Birch]

need to be there to know for sure, but RLI IS a possibility

Here's video of the play:

 

[flash277]

On that video, she is out.

 

[BigSkyHi]

Here's video of the play:

Would have called her out, but the catcher needs the footwork to get inside on that play. Where she threw from would make for a very difficult play even if the runner had been outside the line.

 

[Greatdaytobeawildcat]

Questionable "quality throw". Probably out though.

Let's talk about the field though! Love the different fence heights. And does that (what looks like) grass berm in right field ever cause any interesting plays?

Also, minor grind...hate that the circle isn't drawn, and hate the wavy foul lines.

 

[tim_s]

out all day......throw was not that bad at all, she was more than halfway, way inside the line

 

[Big Daddy Michigan]

Did anyone else think the catcher hit her intentionally?

It's not malicious, but I thought it looked like a 3/4 speed throw at the runner to use the rulebook to her advantage. Otherwise, I'd expect a high throw to get it over her. Instead we got a waist high throw that looked like she took some zip off it.