Umpire Decision? Right or Wrong?

Here's what happened! Runner on second base, two outs in the inning. The hitter hits a clean single to left field, the base runner rounds third and will clearly score with no problem. The catcher, is up the base line at least 10 feet, waiting for the throw, which by the way will be late, ..... the base runner takes the catcher out. Now keep in mind, the throw sailed over his head "AFTER" the collision. He was called out! I asked the base umpire between innings if there was a "have to slide rule" in HS baseball, he said to me that there WAS NOT! We won the game, but I was just curious what y'all thought .

 

Malicious contact rule

There is no MUST slide rule in high school BUT this umpire would have had to rule malicious contact here and toss the runner from the game and also call him out. Did he rule this way?

 

He might have ( he was not tossed out of the game though) and that seems to make sense about the play, but unfortunately, the umpire never gave me an answer as to why he was called out! Go figure, huh!

 

Seems like with catcher in the basepath with no play on the ball... how can he be out Stretchy UNLESS the runner lowers his shoulder (i.e. malicious)

Again, one of those plays I guess you have to actually witness in order to make the right call.

 

LOL

IF an umpire does not give you the answer then he is trying to sell it to you in a silent auction cause he really don't know why he called it!!

 

My thoughts exactly!!!!!!!!!!!
As a Mets fan, your thinking like me (Phillies fan) and thats scary.

 

Got to see is correct

The example said the runner TAKES the catcher OUT so i am assuming malicious contact on this one otherwise your right that the catcher can't just block the basepath or the ball unless a play is imminent.

 

Same play different results

In a scrimmage earlier this year, we basically had the same play. Originally runner ruled OUT, and thrown out of game for malicous contact.

However, umps conferred, and changed the ruling to runner SAFE, but still thrown out of game for malicous contact.

Reason: Umps said there is a new rule this year (or increased emphasis, I didn't catch which), that fielders can't block the base without the ball. Hence the runner was SAFE because the catcher blocked the plate without the ball - but the runner was tossed because any malicous contact gets you tossed.

I'd be interested to hear if this is a new high school rule or just increased emphasis - or if the play was ruled incorrectly.

 

I would like to see the definition of "malicious" as I have always understood that to be the runner lowering his shoulder. anything else was "just racing"....lol

 

Malicious judgement

It is a increased emphasis this year and he would only be safe IF he had scored before the malicious contact. If he had not scored first then he would be out and also ejected. (Rule 8-3-2 Malicious contact supersedes obstruction of a base by a fielder.)