Easton Ghost Bats

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2019 Rule Changes

Here are the rule changes for 2019:

  • 1-1-7, 2-22-4, Table 5-1, 5-1-1o:  The media shall be prohibited from being in live-ball area. The home team or game management may designate an area for the media in dead ball territory.
    Rationale: Clarifies that game management may designate a media area in dead ball territory.1-5-2a: The knob may be molded, lathed, welded or adjustable, but must be permanently fastened.
    Rationale:  Clarifies that an adjustable knob is permissible, provided the knob is permanently fastened by the manufacturer.

    1-8-4:  Defensive players are permitted to wear a shield on their face/head protection in the field but it must be constructed of a molded, rigid material that is clear and permits 100 percent (no tint) allowable light transmission.
    Rationale: In an effort to promote risk minimization, tinted eye shields are prohibited for defensive face/head protection.

    6-1-1 PENALTY, 6-1-2 Thru 4 PENALTY, 6-2-1 PENALTY, 6-2-7 PENALTY: in the case of an illegal pitch, the batter is awarded a ball. The penalty that permitted base runners to be awarded one base without liability to be put out is removed.
    Rationale: The new language creates more balance between offense and defense. The batter should receive the award rather than runners already on base.

     


    2019 SOFTBALL MAJOR EDITORIAL CHANGES

    2-65-2: Clarifies there can be no appeal of the play that occurred prior to the umpire awarding an intentional walk.

    6-1-2a, b:     Clarifies what motion constitutes the start of the pitch and when the step back of the non-pivot foot may be taken.

    APPENDIX H: An Appendix regarding DP/FLEX rules was added for quick reference.


    2019 SOFTBALL EDITORIAL CHANGES

    2-65-2, 3-5-1 NOTE, 5-1 Table, 5-1-1k, 6-2-5, 7-1-2 PENALTY 3, 8-2-4 PENALTY, 8-4-3, 10-1-1

     

    2019 SOFTBALL POINTS OF EMPHASIS

    1.     Simulating taking a sign
      2.    Sliding safety
      3.    Lineup card best practices
    2. Illegal pitch penalties
Read the entire article.

Play of the Week - 1

Bottom of 7th inning, bases are loaded with 1 out and the score is tied. B5 gets a clean base hit to outfield and R1 scores. R2, R3, and the batter-runner do not touch the base that they were advancing to. The ball comes into the infield and during live ball, a) F3 appeals that the batter-runner did not touch first base and she is declared out by the base umpire. F6 then appeals that R3 did not touch second base and she is declared out; and b) F6 appeals that R3 did not touch second base and she is declared out and then  F3 appeals that the batter-runner did not touch first base and she is declared out by the base umpire. 

As the plate umpire, what are your rulings?

  • Here’s our first set of answers and an interesting twist.

    • a) Since the appeal of the batter-runner (out) is made prior to an appeal being made for R3 missing second base then that out would not be considered a force out and the run would score, provided they had touched home plate prior to the third out being awarded(a timing play).
    • b)  If the defense appeals R3 missing second base then appeals B5 missing first base then both of these would be considered force outs. And since the 3rd out is a force out then no runs would score.

     

    Some answers brought forth rule 9-1-1 Exception E stating that the defense can choose the out to its benefit. Yes the defense always has the choice of what order they appeal runners. Where there are two appeals, the defense can choose which one to ask the umpire to enforce based on which one is the most advantageous to their team. If they are well versed in the rules they will pick the order that it the most advantageous to their team. The order in which the appeals are made does make a difference in the ruling.