Rule Question - First base

[uncdrew]

This happened to us twice this weekend, once on offense and once on defense.

Field does not have a safety bag, so just a single base. And as we all know, the single first base is inside the foul line. Pretty straight forward.

Right handed hitter bunts, and then runs to first. The throw hits the runner, and runner is called out for running inside the baseline. I'm not entirely sure how from the right handed batters box you can run to first and be in foul territory and then reach out to the left on your last step to hit the bag. Both times the runner took a straight line from the batters box to first.

I would think they got this call wrong - even when it benefitted us. I do appreciate that it's subjective to some degree, but we thought it was crazy the runner was called out. Other base runners were also sent back to their original base.

 

[mmeece]

In order to be protected from interference the runner must be outside the line until the final step or 2. Sounds like they got it right.

 

[Lance Steckler]

crazy or not, fair or not. righties have to get outside the foul line when running to first. And honestly, that field should have the running lane striped as well.

Ohio mandated the double bag this year for OHSAA sanctioned games.

way back in the stone ages and baseball, on bunts, our catcher used to be told to drill the runners right in the back if they were even close to being on or inside the line. "Encourage them to NOT bunt next at bat" was the coach's logic at the time. Of course, this was coach that was also smoking like a chimney the entire game. Thankfully, times have changed.

 

[Chilixa]

It is odd but righty hitters do have to get outside the foul line. We have painted running lanes on most of the fields now. If a kid likes to bunt you better teach them to hit lefty if they are trying to do it for hits. They get about a two step advantage over right handed batters now.


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[Towny9]

Safety bag or not and lane drawn or not you need to be in the lane. Girls softball players move so far up in the box when they bunt, coupled with the fact that the baselines are so short, creates this issue quite a lot.

 

[Cornbread]

So is it a rule that righties have to run to the outside of the line? NFHS?

 

[Sweet Lou]

It's a rule so you don't interfere with the throw to first by running in fair territory. It applies equally to left and right handed batters. It's just easier for left handed batters to run in foul territory than it is for right handed batters.

But honestly if you're a LHB bunting you are probably up near the front of the box anyway and starting in fair territory also.

 

[bulld1055]

This happened to us twice this weekend, once on offense and once on defense.

Field does not have a safety bag, so just a single base. And as we all know, the single first base is inside the foul line. Pretty straight forward.

Right handed hitter bunts, and then runs to first. The throw hits the runner, and runner is called out for running inside the baseline. I'm not entirely sure how from the right handed batters box you can run to first and be in foul territory and then reach out to the left on your last step to hit the bag. Both times the runner took a straight line from the batters box to first.

I would think they got this call wrong - even when it benefitted us. I do appreciate that it's subjective to some degree, but we thought it was crazy the runner was called out. Other base runners were also sent back to their original base.



View attachment 27844

The runner must run in foul territory the last 30 feet whether they are right or left handed, With only one base they are allowed the last two steps in fair territory. Like most everything else this is a judgement call if the running lane is not drawn or has been washed out by play.

 

[The Man In Blue]

Not too long ago I read a very interesting article on the history of the runner's lane. Way back in the origin days of baseball, the bases were half in fair territory, half in foul territory. The lane made sense. Over the years that changed, and the lane didn't really make sense. Then the double-base was introduced (in some places) and the lane made sense again.

Illinois requires the double base. We cannot play a game if they don't have it.

As for the OP, sounds like they got it right. As for drilling the runner with the throw, NOT runner's lane interference.

 

[peter.kottke]

This happened to us twice this weekend, once on offense and once on defense.

Field does not have a safety bag, so just a single base. And as we all know, the single first base is inside the foul line. Pretty straight forward.

Right handed hitter bunts, and then runs to first. The throw hits the runner, and runner is called out for running inside the baseline. I'm not entirely sure how from the right handed batters box you can run to first and be in foul territory and then reach out to the left on your last step to hit the bag. Both times the runner took a straight line from the batters box to first.

I would think they got this call wrong - even when it benefitted us. I do appreciate that it's subjective to some degree, but we thought it was crazy the runner was called out. Other base runners were also sent back to their original base.



View attachment 27844

Were you playing at PGF Oaks?


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