Outfield definition?

[Momo's Dad]

Our DD's coach says that the outfield begins 10' beyond the baseline between 1st/2nd and 2nd/3rd and 10' beyond 1st and 3rd base.

The umpire said it begins at the outfield grass, which was about 20' from the baseline.

Our league is ASA-sanctioned. Obviously we were subject to the umpire's ruling, but which interpretation is correct?

[Comp]

A little more information on what kind of call you are talking about here would be very helpful.

Straight out of the ASA rulebook. Definition of "Outfield" That portion of the field in fair territory which is normally covered by the outfielders.

[Bretman]

Neither was correct. There's no rule that defines the outfield as beginning "X" number of feet past the bases (and, conversely, no rule that says the infield is in front of some imaginary line). And there is no rule that defines "the grass" as being part of either the infield or outfield.

Here are the ASA definitions:

INFIELD: That portion of the field in fair territory that includes areas normally covered by infielders.

OUTFIELD: That portion of the field in fair territory which is normally covered by outfielders.

There's nothing there about one of them being any number of feet from the other or any mention of "grass". The definitions are otherwise at the discretion and judgment of the individual umpire. There are really only a small number of rules where these definitions can come into play.

Why was this an issue being discussed?

[Momo's Dad]

Runners on 2nd and 3rd.

Batter hits soft drive towards left over the heads of the SS and 3B who were positioned inside the baseline. One was actually in the baseline, but that's a separate matter.

Left fielder has a decent read on the ball and rushes in towards it. One run has scored. LF fields the ball as the runner from 2nd is about 1/3 of the way home. Having no play, she throws the ball back towards the pitcher.

The umpire then calls the second runner out of the dugout and tells the coach she has to return to 3rd, because the batted ball had never reached the outfield, meaning that the runner from 2nd is only allowed to advance one base, sorta like T-ball.

[twinsmom]

Who the heck's rules are you playing under? Any baserunner/player can advance at her own risk...period, ASA rules wise.

[Bretman]

Huh? Your league must have some of their own rules (many do) that bear no resemblance to standard ASA rules.

As such, the correct ruling here could be...anything possible under the sun depending on what your league officials have come up with. There's no way in the world for anyone who hasn't seen the league rules to have any idea what this league has written or what their intentions might be- including some pre-defined line of separation between the infield and outfield areas.

Sounds like a question that only your league officials can answer!

[GIMNEPIWO]

I don't know what rule set Momo is playing under ... But, I do remember in Dixie Youth Rec @ the younger ages ... there were rules to keep players, or more often Coaches from sending players in certain situations ... and I suspect we are discussing something similar, or a local league rule that is put in place to keep things from getting out of hand ...

[Luther]

Our local league has a similiar rule where the "outfield" must be 10 feet behind the baseline.. the ump said that the rule was to prevent rec coaches from playing extra infeilders for girls they know cannot hit the ball to the outfield.....

Not sure why only one base though as even if the ball was hit in the infield the runner could advance as many bases as possible.

[Momo's Dad]

I definitely intend to seek clarification. Regular season doesn't really matter, but I'd like to at least know what's going on by tournament time at the end of the month. The enforcement was way too arbitrary, IMO. I've been in the region for 3 years now and never seen it called before, so to see it twice in the same day - both times against our team, of course - left me scratching my head and yelling 'what?!' (to my own embarrassment, yes) from down the foul line on the 3rd base side.

Runners have always advanced at their own risk, although it's reasonable to return a runner to 3rd if she makes her turn after the ball is already on its way to the pitcher, which wasn't what happened in this case (nor was it the ruling anyway).

But yes, according to this ump's rules, you could play 10 infielders and on a medium-speed roller to deep short, your team's faster runner would not be allowed to score from 2nd, even though the opposing coach wants the left-fielder to hit the SS and then have her throw to home for a play at the plate.

By nature, I don't like anything that takes the game out of the players' hands, but I especially don't like seeing it in an instructional league. Sure, I would like for our team to have had the run, but more importantly as I look back on it, I'd like to see all the girls given an opportunity to make that play on both sides of the ball.