fielders choice question

[coach1]

Actually two different scenarios:

1. Runner on second, ball hit to shortstop who fields the ball and checks runner which delays his throw to first where runner is safe. I scored it a hit another parent scoring says fielders choice or even debating scoring it as an error because of SS hesitation which I totally disagree with. Just like other opinions.

2. Runner on first. Similarly ball hit to shortstop who flips ball to 2nd baseman for what should have been force out. In his haste to turn double play 2nd baseman misses the bag making advancing runner safe and doesnt make the throw to 1st in time for the out. I scored error on 2nd for missing bag and fielders choice on the batter. Again some discussion with other score keep on what was the right call.

Appreciate your help. You guys are all over it!

[CSThunderCoach]

Girls Fastpitch Softball - Baseball may be slightly different.

Scenario # 1 - Fielder's Choice
NCAA Rule 14.7 - Fielder's Choice
14.7.1.4 When a runner is checked and no throw or a late throw is made, but the runner would have been out had the initial play gone to first base.


Scenario #2 - Error & Fielder's Choice
NCAA Rule 14.21 - Errors
14.21.3 An error shall be charged against any fielder when she catches a thrown ball or fields a ground ball in time to put out any runner on a force play and fails to tag the base or the runner, including a batter-runner on a play at first base.
NCAA Rule 14.7 - Fielder's Choice
14.7.1.1 When a ground ball is put in play and any preceding runner is out on the hit or would have been out had no error occurred.

[coach1]

thanks!

[jks0157]

MLB rules has a comment that basically says if a fielder looks at or feints a throw before throwing to first base that the hit is awarded.

[coach1]

This is in a U-14 league which plays by high school rules mostly based on MLB so pnce again its scorers call

[mprusak]

Here is the specific language from mlb:

(b) The official scorer shall not credit a base hit when a:
(1) runner is forced out by a batted ball, or would have been forced out except for a fielding error;
(2) batter apparently hits safely and a runner who is forced to advance by reason of the batter becoming a runner fails to touch the first base to which such runner is advancing and is called out on appeal. The official scorer shall charge the batter with a time at bat but no hit;
(3) pitcher, the catcher or any infielder handles a batted ball and puts out a preceding runner who is attempting to advance one base or to return to his original base, or would have put out such runner with ordinary effort except for a fielding error. The official scorer shall charge the batter with a time at bat but no hit;
(4) fielder fails in an attempt to put out a preceding runner and, in the scorer's judgment, the batter-runner could have been put out at first base; or
Rule 10.05(b) Comment: Rule 10.05(b) shall not apply if the fielder merely looks toward or feints toward another base before attempting to make the putout at first base.
(5) runner is called out for interference with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball, unless in the scorer's judgment the batter-runner would have been safe had the interference not occurred.