MALICIOUS CONTACT
QUESTION: In high school, baseball and softball, runner touches second and maliciously crashes into shortstop who is obstructing runner in path to third base. Is runner awarded third due to obstruction? Is runner called out for illegal action? Is runner ejected? Is runner awarded third then ejected?
ANSWER: Ball is dead due to malicious action by offensive player. Although the obstruction was an illegal action by the defense, malicious contact always supercedes obstruction; hence, runner is called out and ejected immediately. In New Jersey, report must be filed by umpires to NJSIAA which will administer consequences. ( NJSIAA Blue Handbook, DQ procedure).( BB- Rule 3, Sec. 3, Art. 1,m; SB- Rule 3, Sec. 6, Art. 18). All other runner return to bases occupied at time of infraction.
QUESTION: Runner on second base; two outs; batter hits a shot into the right field gap. Runner from second rounds third base and advances home then maliciously crashes into catcher. Is runner automatically called out? Is runner ejected? Is a run allowed to score on this play?
ANSWER: If illegal action occurred before touching home plate, dead ball; runner is out and ejected with no run scoring. If infraction after runner touched the plate, dead ball; runner is ejected but run scores. Batter-runner will return to base occupied at time of infraction. NJSIAA must again be notified of malicious incident. (BB- Rule 3-3-1,m; Rule 5-1-1,e; Rule 8-4-2,e) (SB- Rule 3-6-18; Rule 5-1-1,e; Rule 8-6-14). NJSIAA rule also applies.
