Overthrow that hits on deck batter.

[Top_Notch]

Another strange one this weekend.

Batter gets an infield hit and is standing on first. First base thows the ball back to the pitcher, but the ball is overthrown. The ball rolls into foul territory where the on-deck batter is standing (in the circle) and on deck batter attempts to get out of the way of the bouncing ball but somehow manages to kick the ball in the process. The baserunner at first advances to second on the overthrow.

Opposition argues the on deck batter interfered with the play and baserunner should go back to first base.

What's the call?

 

[quandofloo]

RULE 7. BATTING
Sec 1. ON-DECK BATTER.
A. The on-deck batter may take a position within the lines of the on-deck
circle nearest the offensive team bench. No player is permitted to warm up
in the other team’s on-deck circle.
B. The on-deck batter may loosen up with no more than two official softball
bats, an approved warm-up bat, or a combination not to exceed two. Any
detachable piece placed on the bat must be approved.
C. The on-deck batter may leave the on-deck circle:
1. When the on-deck batter becomes the batter.
2. To direct runners advancing from third to home plate.
D. The on-deck batter may not interfere with the defensive player’s
opportunity to make an out.
1. If it involves a runner, the runner closest to home plate at the time of
the interference shall be declared out.
2. If it is with the defensive fielder fielding a fly ball, the batter is out.
Note: When the interference is with a thrown ball, the ball is dead and the
runner closest to home is declared out. If no play is obvious, no player is
out, but runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of
interference.

If the runner was on first when the ball was overthrown and no attempt was made at second then I would say that the runner should be returned to first. If there was a potential for a play at second the runner potentially could have been called out.

 

[Top_Notch]

Interesting. PU let the play stand quoting that the on deck batter was where they should have been (and attempted to get out of the way of the errant throw).

 

[MTR]

Another strange one this weekend.

Batter gets an infield hit and is standing on first. First base thows the ball back to the pitcher, but the ball is overthrown. The ball rolls into foul territory where the on-deck batter is standing (in the circle) and on deck batter attempts to get out of the way of the bouncing ball but somehow manages to kick the ball in the process. The baserunner at first advances to second on the overthrow.

Opposition argues the on deck batter interfered with the play and baserunner should go back to first base.

What's the call?

The moment the ball hits the ODB, it is dead. It could be INT only if there was a runner attempting to advance at the time of the INT and there was a player available to field the ball and make a play with the possibility of an out.

 

[Mr T]

The moment the ball hits the ODB, it is dead. It could be INT only if there was a runner attempting to advance at the time of the INT and there was a player available to field the ball and make a play with the possibility of an out.

Thanks. How do you make a judgement on whether the runner is allowed to advance? By your response, are you implying if no INT then runner stays at 2nd? Is there any scenario where runner in returned to 1st, or is it 2nd or out?

 

[BretMan]

Thanks. How do you make a judgement on whether the runner is allowed to advance? By your response, are you implying if no INT then runner stays at 2nd? Is there any scenario where runner in returned to 1st, or is it 2nd or out?

Note that the response says "the moment the ball hits the ODB, it is DEAD".

Runners can't advance when teh ball is dead. Placement of the runner would be determined by her position at the moment the ball became dead.

Still between first and second? Then she goes back to first. Standing on second at the moment the ODb is hit? Then she stays on second.