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Home Run or Double


Question
Just had a weekend high school game where this rule was in question and slightly different than usual.  
The fly ball hit the top 1/3 of the fence, then hit the outfielders glove and went over the fence.  Is this a double because it hit the fence first before the player and then went over.  The call made by ump was double, but a majority of the fans thought it should be home run as it never hit the ground and hit the player and went over.  
What's the right call?  

Thanks!

Answer
Dennis:  Thank you for your question.

There is a situation that I have never actually seen in a game.  Seen outfielders have the ball go off their glove on it's way over; but never bounce off the fence, hit the outfielder and go over.  Unique!

The call by the umpire was the correct one.  When the batted ball hit the fence, the fence had stopped the ball from going over.  The part where the ball hits the outfielder, and that contact causes the ball to go out of play is the key.

From the Baserunning Awards Table:

Two Bases:  Fair batted ball bounces over, through, goes under, lodges in or under fence  ( Once the ball hit the fence, it was the same as the ball hitting the ground and bouncing over.)

Had the batted ball been above the fence and on it's way over and hit the player in some manner, home run.

Four Bases:  

1.  Fair batted ball over fence in flight

2.  Fair batted ball hits foul pole above fence in flight

3.  Fair batted ball prevented from going over fence because it is touched by a spectator

4.  Fair batted ball prevented from going over the fence because of contact with detached player equipment or illegal glove/mitt

I would say, those of you in attendance at that game have seen something pretty rare.  I am sure it has happened many times in the long history of baseball; but in my 49 years of playing and coaching, I have never seen it , nor heard anyone talk about it.

Yours in baseball,

Rick

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