Out or safe at home?

Question
Can a catcher block the plate awaiting a throw from the outfield.  The ball was in the air, coming dirctly to the catcher.  In a 12A fastpitch tournment game, the runner was tagged out by the catcher.  The umpire initially called the runner out but then changed the call to safe saying that the catcher could not block the plate.

Answer
Hi Al,

A fielder cannot block a base or the basepath w/out possession of the ball or we have obstruction. Except in NCAA, in most major orgs "about to receive the ball" no longer matters as regards to obstruction.

If the umpire had obstruction, the left arm goes straight out and when the play is completed we have a dead ball and award the runner the base.  The PU should not have called the runner out and then awarded the base, that's not the proper mechanic.

Mark