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From: kdq@pthya.UUCP (  Kip Quackenbush)
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: Softball Rule Interpretation
Message-ID: <128@pthya.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 4-Jun-84 13:04:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: pthya.128
Posted: Mon Jun  4 13:04:51 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Jun-84 19:32:53 EDT
Organization: Pacific Bell, Hayward CA
Lines: 35

I was involved in a game this weekend where the ground
rules were established before the game. One of the rules
was that a runner could lead off AFTER the ball had crossed
the plate, yet no steals were allowed. It was a slowpitch
game. 

Situation:

Runners at first and third, no outs. Runner at first takes a
lead after the pitch crosses the plate. Catcher throws the ball
to first, runner at third breaks for home, and scores.

Was the ball in play once the catcher decided to throw to first?
Could the runner at third break for home?

Because the game was not sanctioned by any high authority
of softball, I argued that the ball should be considered in
play if the catcher decides to pick off the runner at first,
thus, the man on third can try to score if he wants. What would
have happened if the man on first HAD been picked off.

The umps ruled in favor of the 'live' ball. What do you think?


Post Script--
I thought it was stupid to allow leadoffs to begin with



-- 
	Kip Quackenbush

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