Pitcher in the Basepath

Question
Dear Dr. Ambrose,
I play in a coed slow pitch softball league.  The team we played against last night had its pitcher stand in the base path between third and home to field throws.  I said that this was obstruction because the fielder did not have possession of the ball when he entered the base path and would not be fielding a batted ball.  The ump told me because he was fielding the throw, he had a right to be on the base path and the runner had to run around him.  I know that he quoted me a baseball rule, but I thought the ASA did not follow that particular rule.  Was he right, because if he was that complete changes my defense for next year.  Thanks.

Answer
Hi John,

this should answer it, you might want to print it out, that umpire doesn't understand obstruction in softball



ASA RS36. OBSTRUCTION.
Obstruction is the act of a fielder:
A. Not in possession of the ball, or
B. Not in the act of fielding a batted ball,
which impedes the progress of a batter-runner or runner who is legally
running the bases.
If a defensive player is blocking the base or base path without the ball,
they are impeding the progress of the runner and this is obstruction.
In past years, coaches taught their players to block the base, catch
the ball and make the tag. Now defensive players must catch the ball, block the base and then make the tag.
Whenever obstruction occurs, whether or not a play is being made on
a runner, the umpire should declare obstruction and signal a delayed
dead ball. The ball remains live. If the obstructed runner is put out
prior to reaching the base they would have reached had obstruction
not occurred, a dead ball is called and the obstructed runner, and all
other runners affected by the obstruction, shall be awarded the base(s)
they would have reached, in the umpire抯 judgment, had obstruction
not occurred. An obstructed runner may be called out between the two
bases the runner was obstructed if the runner is properly appealed for
missing a base or leaving a base before a fly ball is first touched. If the
runner committed an act of interference after the obstruction or passed
another runner, this also would overrule the obstruction.
When an obstructed runner is awarded a base that they would have
reached had obstruction not occurred and a preceding runner is on
that base, the obstructed runner shall be awarded that base and the
runner occupying it is entitled to the next base without liability to be
put out.

Mark