This just happen at our last tournament. Kep in mind we are talking U12 baseball on a 70' diamond but that should not affect this question.

When a ball is hit on the ground to shortstop and the runner stops in the baseline to avoid being hit by the ball and is in front of the shortstop, does the shortstop have the right to charge the ball and collide with the runner? Does the fielder have the right of way and is it the responsibility of the runner to avoid contact?

This was not a very hard hit ball and it really appeared the runner intentionally stopped in front of the shortstop. The SS still fielded the ball but had to wait and it was a bang bang play. We thought he got the out by a 1/2 step but the runner was called safe by the umpire.


Thanks!



Bill

It is the runner's responsibility to avoid contact.

Thanks

I thought that was the case. We had one umpire call fielder's interference once upon a time hence the confusion.


Bill

Yeah, the fielder has the right to the ball!