Is this obstruction?

[BretMan2]

Basically repeating what SoCal already posted. NFHS 8-6-22 "The high school softball rule states the runner is out if ?abandon a base, enter her team area or leave the field of play.? The fastpitch ?field of play? is defined as fair or foul territory (2-22-1)."

Not sure what rule book you're looking at. I'm using the 2016 version. It does not even have a rule 8-6-22.

The rule that applies here is NFHS 8-2-4. It says that the batter-runner must actually enter the dug out or team area before she can be called out. Also, the rule does not use the phrase "abandon the base path".

My point being that simply "leaving the base path" is not a rule violation. It doesn't become a rule violation until the player actually leaves live ball area and enters dead ball area.

(PS: Refer to post #7 in this thread for the actual rule)

 

[SoCal_Dad]

Not sure what rule book you're looking at. I'm using the 2016 version. It does not even have a rule 8-6-22.

I quoted 8-6-22 from the 2011 version, which I noted because it is old. I expect the rule is still there and fairly easy to locate under it's new number (section?).

FWIW, here is the NFHS rule (2011) on abandoning a base.

8-6 A runner is out when:
ART. 22 . . . She abandons a base, enters her team area or leaves the field of play.

 

[BretMan2]

I quoted 8-6-22 from the 2011 version, which I noted because it is old. I expect the rule is still there and fairly easy to locate under it's new number (section?).

Okay. I was replying to the other poster who quotes this same old rule number, apparently copying it straight from your earlier post.

By the way...the rule number is now 8-6-19 and it has been rewritten to be less ambiguous. The rule now says that a runner is out if "she abandons a base by entering dead ball area".

The rule I was using is the rule that is written for a batter-runner (8-2-4), as opposed to the rule about other runners (8-6-19), since the original question in the thread was about the batter-runner walking back toward the plate.

 

[SoCal_Dad]

Okay. I was replying to the other poster who quotes this same old rule number, apparently copying it straight from your earlier post.

By the way...the rule number is now 8-6-19 and it has been rewritten to be less ambiguous. The rule now says that a runner is out if "she abandons a base by entering dead ball area". Nice to hear - it struck me as poorly written.

The rule I was using is the rule that is written for a batter-runner (8-2-4), as opposed to the rule about other runners (8-6-19), since the original question in the thread was about the batter-runner walking back toward the plate.

Understood. I only posted the NFHS runner rule because I had posted all the NCAA rules.

 

[rangers00]

Its all good I recently talked to 3 high school umps on different days and gave them the scenario. They said " obstruction should have been called unless ump did not hear anything and batter -runner would be out for abandoning." Also said" the defensive team should have attempted to get her out at 1st base". I am satisfied that 3 out of 3 umps agreed on the call. If you can go from 1st to home without an issue why wouldn't more teams use that as a tactic to score runs. No I did not copy that rule but I was not aware that newer version. But I believe that ump has discretion to determine if he or she feels that the batter runner should be out. Regardless if I called it abandoning the basepath does not change that fact that batter-runner should be out.

 

[BretMan2]

No, it's not a matter of "umpire discretion". The rule and interpretation are clear. If they're calling the batter-runner out before she leaves live ball area, they are NOT making the right call.