Fielding

Question: In high school baseball and girls’ softball, center fielder throws glove at fair batted ball, which is bouncing away from fielder. Is this an automatic double, triple, or homerun? Is ball live or dead?

Answer: If glove does not contact ball, ball remains live without penalty. If detached glove touched batted fair ball, ball remains in play. In BB, batter gains a three-base award from time of infraction and can advance further at own risk (Rule 8, Sec. 3, Art. 3b). In SB, batter is also entitled to three bases from time of pitch and can advance at own risk (Rule 8, Sec. 4, Art. 3e).

Question: Bases are loaded; one out; batter lofts a fair fly ball which can be caught with usual effort by an infielder but is caught by an incoming outfielder. Is the infield fly rule still in effect?

Answer: The rule remains in effect even if outfielder makes the catch. The conditions for the rule (less than two outs, two consecutive force-outs and ordinary effort) dictate enforcement. Rule does not preclude an outfielder from trying to make the catch (BB – Rule 2, Sec. 19; SB – Rule 2, Sec. 30).

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