The first situation was this: With a runner on first, the batter hits a hard one hop line drive that's fielded by the short fielder who steps on second base for one out, then throws to first to complete the double-play. The runner from first advances toward second but stops two or three strides from first base when he sees the force out at second. The throw back to first is dropped by the first baseman who claims that his ability to see the throw from second was obscured by the runner standing in the base path. The umpire ruled interference and called the batter/runner out at first base. This would have been the call had the first baseman fielded the throw cleanly. Is this the correct call?
Here's the quote from the Winter Haven Senior Softball Rules (key paragraph in red):
XI RUNNING BASES
1 A runner advancing extra bases on a hit must touch each base when proceeding to the next base. A proper appeal play may consider the runner out if he fails to touch a base.
2 Sliding or diving into a base is allowed, except at first base or the second home plate.
3 Diving back to a base is permitted (including first base).
4 If a runner overruns a base, he is in jeopardy of being tagged out before he returns to the base. The base runner must be tagged for an out to be recorded if he is not forced to the base. When a runner is advancing to second or third base and the base is blocked by a defensive player fielding the ball, the runner must veer out of the base path or slide to avoid contact. If the runner does not veer out of the way or slide to avoid contact, the runner will automatically be declared out.
Additionally, if the runner’s action(s) impedes the opportunity for a double play, whether or not the attempt was made, the runner advancing to first (1st) base or second (2nd) base shall be declared out.
The Ump made the correct call.
In another situation involving the same rule, the shortstop flipped the ball to a defender at second base forcing out the runner from first. The fielder did not attempt a throw to first for a double-play. The runner from first, running hard for second base did not slide or veer out of the base-path and lightly bumped the defender at second base. The umpire did not make a ruling and let the play stand.
In this case, by the same paragraph in red above, the umpire should have ruled that the runner advancing to first was OUT! Even though no throw or attempted throw for the DP was made, both runners should be out. The runner advancing to second is out because he was forced out at second base in the usual fashion and the runner advancing to first base is out on the interference of the runner advancing to second that failed to VEER or SLIDE.
The umpire did not call it correctly.
In another situation involving the same rule, the shortstop flipped the ball to a defender at second base forcing out the runner from first. The fielder did not attempt a throw to first for a double-play. The runner from first, running hard for second base did not slide or veer out of the base-path and lightly bumped the defender at second base. The umpire did not make a ruling and let the play stand.
In this case, by the same paragraph in red above, the umpire should have ruled that the runner advancing to first was OUT! Even though no throw or attempted throw for the DP was made, both runners should be out. The runner advancing to second is out because he was forced out at second base in the usual fashion and the runner advancing to first base is out on the interference of the runner advancing to second that failed to VEER or SLIDE.
The umpire did not call it correctly.
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