Turnadouble

Well..... Where do I start???? First I never said that the "baseline" was a straight line from base to base. The runner determines the "baseline" like if she's rounding bases but if she is running from base to base the "baseline" is considered to be a straight line(all reality it is a semi straight line.. depending on your runner). I have never seen any one called out for running out of the baseline unless the ball is in the area.The rule says the runnner is allowed 3 ft on each side of the "baseline" to avoid contact with a defensive player making a play on the ball. I know that 3 ft. not alot but that is what the rule says. All of the examples you listed were really good scenarios.... but it is still considered as the Umpires judgement. We could go back & forth all day about plays that would be questioned by this rule but the bottom line is....The rules give us a guideline .....we make a judgement call. I have never seen an Umpire pull out a tape measure to see if she was over 3ft out of the baseline. Personally...I have never called a girl out for running around, jumping over, stopping & then going around a defensive player(that's making a play) or a runner that runs within my opinion the baseline & slide out to tag the base(most of the time when this happens the ball is @ the base or coming to the base & it's not a matter of "running the baseline" you are sliding out with your arm on or near the bag)....but I have called a runner out for trying to run "around" a tag(most of them are pretty obvious).......all of these are judgement calls. I'll say it again ...do you think it is fair to the Defensive Team to let the runner run all over the place when the defense got the ball to the base before the runner?? On the other hand ...do you not expect the runner to do anything possible to get to that base?? Yes, it is a rat race......both trying to get ahead. That is why we have Umpires. As for you saying "It sounds like you are attaching the 3 foot limitation to the wrong thing". This isn't about I'm right, your wrong or Your right, I'm wrong. It is what the rule book says...take it as you will. The rules give us a guideline .....we make a judgement call.

You might want to read that again...the runner has 3ft on each side of the baseline to avoid contact with a defenseive player making a play. Like the shortstop making a play on a ground ball she can run 3ft out of the baseline to avoid contact with the player not avoid a tag.

What area are you in?

I know what you are saying but sometimes when your out... your out.You can't say well she didn't have a chance to get to home...the Defense had the ball to the catcher before the runner made it home...that's how the game goes. You can't make the catcher stand back at home plate & wait for the runner to get there. She had to make a choice...stop & let her tag her...go back to 3rd base....run out of the baseline(to avoid contact)...or run into the catcher.

I'm not in your area..but our TSSAA umpires know this rule. It has been called alot this year. We have had a lot of complants because players,coaches & fans haven't read the new rule. This why before your season starts all coaches need to be clear on all of the rule changes.

This happened to me in a game that I was calling. In my situation the 2nd baseman had the ball & was about 2 ft. up the line ready to tag. The runner didn't want to go back or be called out....she was like a deer caught in the headlights. She just run the 2nd baseman over. The 2nd baseman lost the ball in the crash. I called the runner out....although I didn't throw her out of the game, maybe I should have ...because both of them could have gotten hurt. (Everything is easier in hindsight) The rule is ...if the catcher(or any baseman) has posession of the ball, they have the right to block that base to make a tag. It wouldn't make much sense to say.... you have to stay back here at the base & let this girl slide & then try to make the out. That is what the game is about......making outs. The rule says you have to try to avoid contact..It doesn't say you have to slide....this girl was out & she knew it. It doesn't sound like to me that in your situation that the runner tried to hurt the catcher (but I wasn't there). She would have been out either way because she didn't attempt to avoid contact. The only question in this matter is should she have been ejected?? It is all up to the Umpire. There is a new rule that says....NO player can block the base/plate with out possession of the ball. They can NOT block the base even if they are setting up to receiving a throw. THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE BALL TO BLOCK THE BASE. We need to make sure the rules are clear to our coaches & they are telling their players. Ask your umpire if you aren't clear on a rule. I think we all want to keep the girls safe.

Everyone has made good points about umpires & calls. Did it cost you the game or not?? We could argue forever about Umpires & JUDGEMENT calls. You will notice that I stressed JUDGEMENT. That is exactly what this call was. It wasn't a matter of correct rule....it was a judgement call. This means his opinion. Which by reading this thread everyone has different opinions!! My husband & I both umpire softball (mostly around the Cookeville area) but I have seen Coffee Co. play & they have a great team as does Shelbyville I'm sure(they always have great group of girls). I have played in games where a call does change the pace but you can't entirely blame the umpire(don't get me wrong I have seen some umpires that can't seem to make a right call). Was he consistently making bad calls or was it this one call that everyone noticed? I remember before I decided to be an Umpire...I thought (setting in the stands) I can do this! It is a different world once you step on the field. You have to make sure you can see the play, watch the ball, watch the runners on all bases & help the plate umpire watch stuff....The plate umpire has to watch everything from behind a mask & heavy equipment. So really think about what they have to do. It's easy setting in the stands & saying"I can see it from here!". It's not an easy job if it was everyone would be umpires. I have missed calls...every umpire has missed calls...even the best. We still have some of the best Umpires (that I have seen) in TSSAA. They love the game & the majority of them aren't just there for the "extra money". I wish both teams the best of luck. When you meet again...maybe things will be different.

I don't think anyone was saying that he's not come a long way but everyone needs help I don't care who you are. Whiteaker has helped him alot but these girls need to learn how to hit. Livingston has always had strong defence but they struggle with hitting. Untill someone helps these girls hit ,I think they are just treading water. I hope LA comes out of it because HOGEYE has a lot of talent!

2002 was his last year :justwrestle: . A few of these seniors were freshmans.......

I don't think that pitching made that big of a difference in the second game. Monterey was hitting the ball good the first game but LA had great defence. The second game would have been a good game if LA would have played like they know how to! (Monterey had 3 big hits the second game)LA made alot of fundamental mistakes. Things they had learned when they were younger. I have a felling that we will see more of this type game untill these girls go back to what they know!!! You have half the team that is serious & then the other half who is just out there to be seen!! Don't get me wrong..this sport is made to be fun & have a good time but there is a line! Once you cross that white line you need to play ball & don't be a JOKE! If you do something funny it's ok to laugh but then you straighten up and make the next play!! I can tell that only 3 of 4 of these girls ever played for Coach McCormick...those few who did know what it's about. You girls could go a long way..if you'll try. You need to remember 3 things 1. You have to respect your coach. 2. You have to have faith in your ability, if you don't NO ONE else will. 3. For 2 hours(how ever long the game takes) put everything else aside. Give it everything you've got..don't hold anything back. If you mess up make up for it. A great coach once told me, What I had I gave..what I kept was lost forever.

Great!! I'll come yell @ you Monday/Celina game. Did you guys scrimage Byrdstown or Sparta or were they cancelled? If you ever want a little one on one with your batting let me know! thumb

You Should!! You went to watch an LA Softball game with me when you were in 8th grade. thumb

I think Mike has come along way from 2 years ago. He has done a good job but all coaches need help. I had a few of your teammates ask me to help coach but I'm not stepping on his toes.All he would have to do is ask. I would be happy to just practice you girls. What do you know.... Batting is my specialty!!!

Why doesn't LA Softball have an assistant coach??? All of LA's other sports do. I know for a fact that girls like Courtney (Curtis) McCormick have offered to help. I have seen her coach I think she would help alot especially in the pitching department! I know the girls that played last year & they were great players. Who is helping? I want to see LA play to the best of thier potential. I think it is time for softball to be put on the front burner. I think I know who you are wildcatsoccerfreak22. I have always told your dad that you have real talent for softball. Are you playing 2nd this year?

What happened at the scrimage with Macon?? Who is helping coach Johnson this year???

I would agree 100% Tiffany Krantz!!!! We have had alot of good players come through Livingston. Katrina Beechboard, Jenna Baltimore, Misty Garrett,Paige Smith, TIFFANY KRANTZ, Sunday Watson, Amilla Adcock, Amy Brown,Leslie Smith and Elizabeth Maxwell. They were all the pride of LA! There are so many names that I could name but these are the top 10 in my mind. Tiffany went on to Auburn and set some school records! That girl could shoot the prettiest 3 pointer !!!! For those of you that don't know Tiffany is a Veterinarian in Celina.