Foul Ball Ruling

Question
Last evening one of our players hit a weak ball that essentially died a few feet in front of home plate - clearly in fair territory. As the cathcher attempted to field it, the ump called it a foul ball based on the fact that the catcher had one foot on the line as he picked up the ball. It would seem to me that the positioning of the ball - not the fielder - would dictate fair vs foul. If not, any weakly hit ball down the line that cannot be fielded in time for a play could be turned into a foul call by having the fielder step into foul territory and reach back into the field of play to touch the ball.

Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hi Bob,

you are correct, it never matters where the player is when they contact the ball it only matters where the ball is.

If the "ball is in fair territory" when 1st touched it is a fair ball, likewise the same if you insert foul for fair.

This is a fair ball and an umpire that doesn't know the basic rules of softball.

mark