Ground ball hit between 2nd and third, runner at second going to third is hit by ball. Is there ANY situation/rule saying it would not be called a dead ball?
Might want to check this statement. IIRC you only protect ONE fielder's ability to field a batted ball, make your choice as the umpire and the other has no standing for an interference call.*Now, if it passes the first fielder and a second fielder has a legitimate play (pretty much has to be RIGHT THERE), the obligation remains.
Might want to check this statement. IIRC you only protect ONE fielder's ability to field a batted ball, make your choice as the umpire and the other has no standing for an interference call.
That being said, if, for instance 3B is playing and doesn't have a legitimate chance to play the ball, you can and should protect the SS playing at DP depth from interference, the fact that the ball has simply 'passed the fielder' (the 3B) doe not remove the responsibility of the runner to afford the SS the opportunity to field the batted ball.
However, if the fielders are RIGHT THERE as you describe, you are only going to protect ONE of them, generally the one the ball reaches first....
So another situation; runner on third, 3rd baseman playing in, scorching liner whizzes past 3rd baseman between her and the foul line, but strikes runner who has taken only a step off the bag in fair territory. That runner is safe as well, correct?