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AOAMarch 6, 2013

Prepared by Bob Jenkins and Steve Harms

What’s the Definition? What’s the Penalty? Casebook Examples Video Examples What if it happens in the state

championship game?

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2-22-1 An act by a fielder or any member of the defensive

team Intentional or unintentional Physical or verbal

that hinders a runner or changes the pattern of play 2-22-2

Fake tag (reduce likelihood of injury by runner sliding)

2-22-3Fielder w/o possession of the ball denies access to the base the runner is attempting to achieve

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AKA “Catcher’s Interference” 8-1-3

The catcher (or any other defensive player) obstructs batter

Delayed dead ball (5-1-2b) Ignored if batter-runner reaches first base and all

other runner(s) advance at least one base Offensive team (coach/captain) can elect to decline

the obstruction penalty and accept the resulting play Decision must be made before

Next pitch (legal or illegal) Awarding of intentional base on balls All infielders leave the diamond

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Batter-runner Awarded first base, if he did not reach

that base All other runner(s)

If attempting to advance (steal or squeeze), awarded the advance base.

If not attempting to advance, not entitled to that base, UNLESS forced to advance because batter-runner awarded first base

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8.1.1E R2, F2 obstructs B3, who still hits the

ball and reaches first base safely. R2 (not advancing on the pitch) is thrown out at home plate.

Obstruction ignored or enforced? Ignored. Batter-runner reached first base

and all other runner(s) reached an advance base.

R2’s out at home stands.

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8.1.1 F R2. B2 at bat. F2 clearly reaches out over home

plate A) Prior to B) After F1 has made a movement that commits him

to pitch C) To receive the pitch

RULING: In A) No obstruction. Suggest verbalize “Time”

and let both batter and catcher “reset” In B) and C) Obstruction. B2 awarded first base; R2 not advancing (remains on 2nd base)

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8.1.1 G R3 F1 pitching from the windup. After F1 winds

up, R3 starts home as in a squeeze play. F3, who is playing close for a bunt, cuts off the pitch and tags R3.

RULING: Obstruction

Ball is dead when F3 catches the pitch R3 awarded home (advancing on the pitch) B3 awarded first base

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8.1.1 H R2, 1 out. F2 obstructs B3 who grounds out to F4. (R2

advances to third). F3 throws to F5 in an attempt to retire R2, who has rounded third base, but makes a bad throw; R2 scores on overthrow.

RULING: Offensive coach has option:

Accept the obstruction penalty B3 awarded first base and R2 returned to 2nd base, still 1 out

Take the resulting play. Two outs, Run scores.

8.1.1 N R3, R2, 1 out. F2 obstructs B4, who hits ground ball

to F4. R2 was attempting to steal third base (even though 3rd base was occupied). B4 thrown out at first base.

RULING: B4 did not reach first base safely, so coach has

option to take resulting play or have penalty enforced.

Penalty: B4 awarded 1st base; R2 awarded 3rd base; R3 forced to advance home

Resulting play: (Presuming R3 scored on groundout) R2 remains at 3rd base; B4 is out)

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Two “types” of obstruction: Play is being made on an obstructed

runner NCAA Type 1(2-54); OBR Type A 7.06(a)

Runner obstructed on whom no play is being made.

NCAA Type 2 (2-54); OBR Type B 7.06(b) REGARDLESS in NFHS

Ball is delayed dead (5-1-2b)

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8-3-2 When a runner is obstructed while advancing or returning to

a base. Umpire verbalizes “That’s obstruction!” Umpire gives delayed dead ball signal (left fist closed; arm

extended at shoulder height) Penalty

The obstructed runner is awarded a minimum of one base beyond his position on base when the obstruction occurred.

Umpire shall award the runner (and any other runner affected by the obstruction), the bases they would have achieved, in his opinion, had there been no obstruction.

If runner achieves the base he was attempting to acquire, obstruction is ignored

Malicious contact supersedes obstruction.12

Type 1/Type A Rundowns Pickoffs

Type 2/Type B Around/Near the bases

F3 obstructs batter-runner after rounding 1st base

F4/F6 obstructs R1 or BR near 2nd base F5 obstructs R2, R1 or BR near 3rd base F2 obstructs R# near home plate, i.e., in

baseline w/o possession of the ball13

8.3.2 A R1, R2. B3 beats out an infield hit. R2 advances to

and past 3rd base toward home. In a rundown, F5 obstructs R2. However, R2 gets back to 3rd base safely and finds R1 there. F5 tags R1 with the ball.

RULING: Type 1 obstruction Time called after F5 tags R1. R2 is awarded home; R1 allowed to remain at 3rd base. B3 stays at whatever base (1st or 2nd) he had reached

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8.3.2 B While (a) B1 is moving toward 2nd base on a hit to right-

center field, F6, who does not have the ball in his possession, fakes a tag on B1, or (b) B1 is returning to 1st base and F3, who does not have the ball, fakes a tag on B1

RULING Type 2 Obstruction (no play being made) Ball remains live Fake tag is obstruction (2-22-2) In both (a) and (b) B1 is awarded 2nd base. In (a), if in U2’s

judgment, B1 could have reached 3rd base, award 3rd base Anything else?

3-3-1b. Warning to coach about fake tag; next action is ejection

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8.3.2 H Nobody out; R1 and R2. R2 is obstructed rounding third.

R1 had advanced beyond second base. B3 then interferes with F3.

RULING Type 2 Obstruction (no play being made) Ball remains live at time of obstruction Ball becomes dead at the time of the interference Handle them in the sequence they occurred: OBS then INT

If R2 obstructed AFTER rounding third, awarded home If R2 obstructed BEFORE reaching third, MAY award 3rd or home

if U2 judges he would have scored had not been obstructed R1 last base is 2nd base at TOI B3 is out.

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Ground ball to an infielder Technically “Type 1” Batter-Runner awarded 1st base

Pop-up or line drive to an infielder If ball is caught, batter-runner is out; no obstruction If ball is not caught, (and is a fair ball), BR will be

awarded 1st base Ball hit to the outfield

If ball is caught, BR is out If ball is not caught, BR will always be “protected”

to at least 1st base.

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Factors to consider Position of the runner (batter-runner) Location of the ball Position of fielder(s)

Ultimate decision on where to place the runner(s) Not be made until ALL play has ceased Based on principle that obstructed runner (BR) will be

entitled to the base he would have reached had obstruction not occurred.

Can confer with partner

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Lyons Township vs. Oak Park/River Forest Conference rivals; have met four times this

season, splitting games. OPRF leads LT 3-2

Box score through five innings LT 000 11 OPRF 001 02

Umpires PU – Bob Jenkins; U3 – Bob Copas; U1 – Dan Marshall

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LT in 6th inning… B6 doubles to left field. (Courtesy Runner). B7 grounded out to F3 unassisted; R2 advanced

to 3rd base. (1 out) B8 popped up to F4 (2 outs). B9 singled to shortstop; B6’s CR scored B1 is up to bat B9 steals 2nd base

And here we are. Game tied; 2 outs; go ahead run on 2nd

base…21

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