A hard hit one-hop batted ball is hit to the pitcher. The ball gets stuck in her glove. She throws the glove with the ball in it to the 1st baseman. Is this an out?
The internet is full of discussions on if this should be an out or not. Some suggest that the rule is different in Little League Baseball and NFHS. The only baseball rule book I have is a MLB book from 2004 and it defines a catch as, “the act of the fielder getting secure possession in his hand or glove of a ball”. MLB uses the phrase “secure possession”. So I can see why the play above could be interpreted as an out.
You are viewing: How Does A Baseball Get Stuck In A Glove
Read more : How to Organize Winter Gloves and Hats
But now let’s look at the USA softball definition of a catch, “a legally caught ball, which occurs when the fielder catches a thrown ball with the hand(s) or glove”. The implication is that the fielder needs to control the ball with their own “hand or glove.” After further research, I found this case play from the USA softball website: “It is not a catch when the fielder catches a batted or thrown ball with anything other than the hand(s) or glove in its proper place.” Notice that the case play uses the phrase “in its proper place”.
The NFHS Softball casebook has a play that states that a runner is NOT out if on a force play and a throw from F4, the ball rolls up F3’s arm and is secured by her elbow. This is ruled as NOT a catch because the ball “needs to be securely held in the hand or glove.”
Read more : How Do I Dry A Baseball Glove
The NCAA softball rule book states: “The runner is NOT out when a fielder uses any equipment that is detached from its proper position to catch a thrown ball.
As always, I welcome any feedback, but it seems a lot easier for me to use the rule books and case books to argue that the play shown above is NOT an out.
In the end, you and I may have wasted alot time thinking about this play as the likelihood that a 12″ softball will be lodged in a fielder’s mitt is improbable.
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: HOW
