Springfield Youth Baseball and Softball Official Rule Book
Springfield Youth Baseball and Softball Official Rules 2016 EXPLANATION OF USE OF THE DOUBLE FIRST BASE: THE BATTER-RUNNER IS OUT. A. If when using the double base, and there is a play on the batter-runner, the batter-runner touches only the white portion and the defense appeals prior to the batter-runner returning to first base. This is treated the same as missing the base. EXCEPTION: 1. If the ball is thrown from the foul side of first base line, or 2. When an errant or missed throw pulls the defensive player into foul ground. The defensive player may use either the orange or white base to make the play. B. If when using the double base, and there is a force play by an infielder on the batter- runner, who touches only the white portion and collides with the fielder about to catch a thrown ball while on the white. EFFECT: Interference is ruled, the ball is dead, the batter-runner is out, and all other runners are returned to the base last occupied at the time of interference.
Examples and Clarification 1. If there is a play on the batter-runner, the defense must use white and the batter-runner must use orange. This is the general purpose for the Double Base and what happens almost all the time. When there is a play at first, the fielder touches the white base and the runner steps on the orange base. The most common example of this situation is a ground out to the infield. 2. If there is a play from the foul side of 1st base, or an errant throw that pulls the defense into foul ground, then both the defense and the batter-runner can use either base. Under these conditions, the fielder is allowed to use the orange base. Once the fielder moves to the orange base, then the batterrunner is allowed to move to the white base. In fact, the batter-runner is expected to move to the white base. An example of this situation is a bunt that is fielded just in front of home plate and the throw is wide to the foul side of first base. The fielder may cross-over to the orange base to make a play on the thrown ball. The batter-runner is then expected to move inside to the white base. 3. If there is no play on the batter-runner, then she can use either base. An example of this situation is a clean single to left field. The batter-runner can use either base as she touches first and rounds to look at second. 4 - - - After touching 1st base and then returning to 1st base, the batter-runner must use the white base only. The Double Base is only for the purpose of the initial play at first base. After the batter-runner has been called safe at first, the orange base is no longer in use.
Rev: 1/12/16
Copyright 2016 S.T.Y.B.S
Page 33 of 42
Examples and Clarification 1. If there is a play on the batter-runner, the defense must use white and the batter-runner must use orange. This is the general purpose for the Double Base and what happens almost all the time. When there is a play at first, the fielder touches the white base and the runner steps on the orange base. The most common example of this situation is a ground out to the infield. 2. If there is a play from the foul side of 1st base, or an errant throw that pulls the defense into foul ground, then both the defense and the batter-runner can use either base. Under these conditions, the fielder is allowed to use the orange base. Once the fielder moves to the orange base, then the batterrunner is allowed to move to the white base. In fact, the batter-runner is expected to move to the white base. An example of this situation is a bunt that is fielded just in front of home plate and the throw is wide to the foul side of first base. The fielder may cross-over to the orange base to make a play on the thrown ball. The batter-runner is then expected to move inside to the white base. 3. If there is no play on the batter-runner, then she can use either base. An example of this situation is a clean single to left field. The batter-runner can use either base as she touches first and rounds to look at second. 4 - - - After touching 1st base and then returning to 1st base, the batter-runner must use the white base only. The Double Base is only for the purpose of the initial play at first base. After the batter-runner has been called safe at first, the orange base is no longer in use.
Rev: 1/12/16
Copyright 2016 S.T.Y.B.S
Page 33 of 42
