tag play

Question
We do not have mandatory slide rule in our league.  A girl runs to home, catcher has caught the ball but in the tag, drops the ball.  Catcher is twice the size of the runner and blocking plate.  Runner steps around to touch plate.  Safe or out?  In all of my experience if you drop the ball, runner is safe.

Answer
Hi Nicole,

ASA doen't have a a slide rule either.

You cannot remain upright and collide with the defensive player.  If a defensive player has the ball they can block the bag or the plate.

If your runner was trying to get around or catch the side of the plate and did not collide with the catcher, and the ball came lose as the catcher was tagging her, we have a safe.

If the umpire thought it was a collision we have an out regardless of the ballbeing dropped.

Mark