number of questions
Question
I have a few questions to get clarification on. Each game it seems that there is an issue with these situations and each umpire has ruled differently. The girls are at the 12U level.
1.) it is my understanding that on a walk, the batter may continue around first base and advance to second base (if the base is unoccupied) even if the pitcher is in posession of the ball in the circle. However, if the batter rounds first, stops, then goes back to first is she automatically out or would the position players need to tag her before the next pitch? also, if the pitcher is not in the circle, can the batter round first and decide to go back to first base without the consequence listed above?
2.) Where can i find a rule book with the exact verbage of how a pitcher can deliver to the plate? we have run into a number of pitchers that "hop" off the mound before the ball has left their hand.
3.) infield fly rule... i have played baseball all my life and have never seen anything like this before. normal situations will have your baserunners on or within a step or two of the original bag. we have played many teams in which the girls (on the bases and on the other team) don't realize that the ball has been popped up. we have had instances where the ball has been dropped and the runners are already over half way to the next base. is this legal? and if the ball is caught, if the girl is off the base and we throw to that base, shouldn't the runner be called out?
Lastly, where can i get an official rule bookto keep with the equipment, because we keep running in to more and more uninformed umpires.
Thanks for your time and response.
Answer
Question 1
Regardless of whether the ball is in the circle, the runner may round, stop then immediatley choose a base. Immediatly gets shorter as the girls get older.
Question 2
www.nfhs.com, or google search for your ASA state office
Question 3
The IFR has nothing to do with the runners, only the batter. When the rule is in effect and the batter pops up to the infield they are called out immediatly. If the ball is caught, the runners need to tag up to advance. If the ball is not caught, they don't need to tag up. This is just like any other fly ball.
Question 4
See answer 2.
bases loaded, hit runner at 3rd, ball goes out of play
ASA rule on voluntary release