INFIELD FLY RULE
Question: In high school, baseball and softball, runners on second and first; one out; batter lofts a fair fly ball in middle of infield. Pitcher moves out of way thinking another infielder will make play on ball but no one makes an attempt. Batted ball then contacts pitching rubber and ricochets into foul territory untouched by any fielder. Is this an infield fly rule play?
ANSWER: Although a few conditions exist for the rule to be in effect, two actions negate the rule being called. First, no infielder made an attempt to catch ball with ordinary effort; secondly, the ball did not reach / pass first or third base; hence, ball was foul not fair (BB- Rule 2, Sec. 19; SB- Rule 2, Sec. 30).
QUESTION: Runners on second and first, no outs; batter lofts fair ball again near mound which can be caught with ordinary effort by shortstop. This infielder decides to deliberately drop ball by catching ball in glove and allowing it to fall to ground thereby possibly gaining a double play. Is infield fly in effect? Does ball remain live or declared dead?
ANSWER: (BB only) Infield fly is in effect; batter is out (Rule 8-4-1, c). (SB only) Infield fly is also in effect, batter is out. Ball remains live because batter was already out due to infield fly rule and cannot be declared out again on deliberate drop (SB- Rule 8-2-10). Infield fly rule takes precedence in this situation. Defenses cannot take advantage of an undeserved double play; hence, ball remains live to allow offense opportunity to advance.
