Running Lane

Question
QUESTION: Dr. Ambrose, we had a situation in a recent travel game where I think the umpire might have followed the "letter of the law", but not the intent of the rule.  The batter bunted a ball down the third baseline.  The thirdbaseman fields the ball, about 20-25 feet down the line, throws offline to first, and hits the batter/runner with the throw.  The throw was 15 down the first base line.  The umpire called the batter out for not running in the running lane.  I understand what this rule was put in for, so the catcher would have clear throw if it was her play.  In this situation, the umpire rewarded the thirdbaseman for making a truly terrible throw - one that would have been the 1st base dugout if it didn't hit the runner.  Did the umpire make the correct call?  When does the runner have to stay in the runners lane?

ANSWER: Hi Steven,

Based on your info I would say the call was incorrect

8-2e  the b-r is out " when the b-r runs outside the 3' lane and in the judgment of the umpire interferes with the fielder taking the throw at 1st"

that doesn't seem to be the situation here.

a b-r must stay in the lane (to be protected) if a throw is coming to 1st and being out of the lane would interfere w/ the fielder taking the throw.

Mark

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dr. Ambrose,

Where do I find this in the ASA Code.  I tried looking it up on the ASA site at http://downloads.asasoftball.com/about/pdf/asa_code.pdf, but I can't seem to find the playing rules.

Thanks,

Steve

Answer
Hi Steve,

The ASA code is a different document from ASA playing rules and ASA does not publish it's playing rules online.

I gave you 8-2-e from the rule book, if you need to have it written out you have to get a rule book from your distict or regional commish

mark