1. The batter hits a pop fly between 1B and 2B and the ball falls untouched to the ground about six feet beyond the base line. The ball has tremendous backspin and rolls across the foul line about ten feet from home plate where it is first touched by the first baseman. The batter advances to 2B on the play.

A. Fair ball
B. Foul ball


2. Runner is on 1B when the batter hits a fly ball deep to left field. The runner takes off for 2B, rounds the bag and then thinking that left fielder will be able to make the catch, the runner retreats back to first base, touching 2B on the way. The runner is between 2B and 1B when realizing left fielder will not make the catch. The left fielder recovers the ball and throws to 2B for an apparent force out on the runner. The umpire rules that the force out is not in effect at 2B since the runner had already touched the bag.

A. The umpire is correct and the runner is safe
B. The umpire is incorrect and runner is out


3. The batter hits the ball back to the pitcher making the pitcher jump and the ball strikes the pitching plate. The ball deflects off the pitching plate and bounces into foul territory between home and 1B where the catcher retrieves it.

A. Foul ball
B. Fair ball


4. With one out, bases loaded and the score tied in the bottom of the seventh, the batter walks bringing in the winning run. The batter joins in the celebration and is reminded to go to 1B by a coach. The defense appeals (a) that the batter was out of the base path, (b) that the batter was aided by a coach while the ball was in play, and (c) that batter did not go directly to 1B. The umpires rule all runners safe once the batter-runner reaches 1B.

A. The runner is out
B. The runner is safe


5. With one out, the batter hits a long fly ball to left center field. The base umpire goes out because it appears the ball is going to clear the outfield fence and signals a home run. Seeing this, the batter slows up rounding 2B. The left center fielder picks up the ball and throws to an infielder who throws to 3B for a close play. The plate umpire calls the batter out.

A. The runner is safe
B. The runner is out


6. (Slow Pitch Only) The batter swings very slowly at a pitch and on contact the ball rolls out in front of the plate.

A. Dead ball and the batter out (bunt)
B. Live ball and the play continues
C. Dead ball (chopped ball)


7. The batter hits a fair line drive that is touched in flight by the second baseman after which it strikes an umpire standing behind behind him. The ball is then caught by the shortstop before it touches the ground.

A. The batter is not out
B. The batter is out


8. With one out and a the bases loader, the batter grounds to the third baseman who tags the runner standing on 3B and then touches 3B before the runner on 2B arrives from 2B.

A. This is not a double play
B. This is a double play

Am I to believe not one person has enough nerve to be an umpire for a day? I find that hard to believe, especially when considering so many are so critical of league umpires throughout the course of the softball year. Here at least there's time to think about or research the answers. Game umpires don't have the luxury of time or the ability to look it up on Google. A lot of people think umpiring is easy. Well, it's not. It's a tough job and all too often a thankless one. C'mon now! Step up to the plate and U Make the Call. Maybe you'll be right or maybe you'll give our league umpires something to laugh about.

probably not even close but anyway....
1. B
2. A
3. B
4. B
5. B
6. A
7. B
8. B

Hey, we have a taker. In spite of getting only 2 of 8 right, I respect your effort, Rich.

1. A
2. A
3. B
4. B (runners are all safe, but the batter is out, and the game is over)
5. A (and, why would the batter be out?)
6. B
7. A
8. B

AND... I didn't use the internet.

6 of 8 correct, Bob. Nice job!

1. A
2. B
3. A
4. A
5. B
6. B
7. A
8. B

6 of 8 correct. Nice!

I set the bar low

1. A
2. B
3. B
4. B
5. A
6. A
7. A
8. A

Also, a suggestion for more guesses here, post a link to this on FaceBook. There are several umpiring “experts” there.

5 out of 8, Rob. Not bad. I'll post it on Facebook. My fear is it will turn into a sh*t show over there as most things do. If that should happen, I'll just delete the entire post.

1. A
2. A
3. A
4. B
5. A
6, B
7. A
8. B.

U make the call means the off season is almost over - that makes this old stir crazy SOB a little less crotchety!

7 of 8, stoney. You always do well with UMTC.

So based on the responses so far, the answers must be:
1.A
2.B
3.A
4.B
5.A
6.B
7.A
8.B

Excellent deductive reasoning, Alex.

Here are the correct rulings...

1. The batter hits a pop fly between 1B and 2B and the ball falls untouched to the ground about six feet beyond the base line. The ball has tremendous backspin and rolls across the foul line about ten feet from home plate where it is first touched by the first baseman. The batter advances to 2B on the play.

A. Fair ball
B. Foul ball

Answer: A
RULING: This is a fair ball because it first touches the ground beyond the bases in fair territory. The batter remains at 2B and is credited with a double. (1-FAIR BALL-F)

2. Runner is on 1B when the batter hits a fly ball deep to left field. The runner takes off for 2B, rounds the bag and then thinking that left fielder will be able to make the catch, the runner retreats back to first base, touching 2B on the way. The runner is between 2B and 1B when realizing left fielder will not make the catch. The left fielder recovers the ball and throws to 2B for an apparent force out on the runner. The umpire rules that the force out is not in effect at 2B since the runner had already touched the bag.

A. The umpire is correct and the runner is safe
B. The umpire is incorrect and runner is out

Answer: B
RULING: When the runner retouched 2B on the way back to 1B, the force out was reinstated and the runner should be called out. (1-FORCE OUT)

3. The batter hits the ball back to the pitcher making the pitcher jump and the ball strikes the pitching plate. The ball deflects off the pitching plate and bounces into foul territory between home and 1B where the catcher retrieves it.

A. Foul ball
B. Fair ball

Answer: A
RULING: Foul ball. (1-FOUL BALL-A & H)

4. With one out, bases loaded and the score tied in the bottom of the seventh, the batter walks bringing in the winning run. The batter joins in the celebration and is reminded to go to 1B by a coach. The defense appeals (a) that the batter was out of the base path, (b) that the batter was aided by a coach while the ball was in play, and (c) that batter did not go directly to 1B. The umpires rule all runners safe once the batter-runner reaches 1B.

A. The runner is out
B. The runner is safe

Answer: B
RULING: In (a), there is no penalty for leaving the base path since the was not avoiding a tag. In (b) verbal
instructions are not considered aiding the runner. In (c) runner the did not enter the dugout or leave the field of play, so there is no penalty. In all cases, the run counts and the game is over. (8-1C)

5. With one out, the batter hits a long fly ball to left center field. The base umpire goes out because it appears the ball is going to clear the outfield fence and signals a home run. Seeing this, the batter slows up rounding 2B. The left center fielder picks up the ball and throws to an infielder who throws to 3B for a close play. The plate umpire calls the batter out.

A. The runner is safe
B. The runner is out

Answer: A
RULING: If the umpires determine that the incorrect signal placed the batter in jeopardy, the umpires should place the batter be placed on the base that they believe would rectify the situation. (10-3C)

6. (Slow Pitch Only) The batter swings very slowly at a pitch and on contact the ball rolls out in front of the plate.

A. Dead ball and the batter out (bunt)
B. Live ball and the play continues
C. Dead ball (chopped ball)

Answer: B
RULING: There is no penalty for taking a slow swing. The rules state that a batter cannot chop down on the
ball or bunt in slow pitch. The batter can intentionally hit a ground ball. (1-BUNT; 1-CHOPPED BALL)

7. The batter hits a fair line drive that is touched in flight by the second baseman after which it strikes an umpire standing behind him. The ball is then caught by the shortstop before it touches the ground.

A. The batter is not out
B. The batter is out

Answer: A
RULING: The batter is not out. The ball remains live because it has passed an infielder other than the pitcher before it struck the umpire. When a batted fair ball in flight strikes an umpire, it is interpreted the same as the ball striking the ground where the umpire is standing. (1-CATCH/NO CATCH-B[2])

8. With one out and a the bases loader, the batter grounds to the third baseman who tags the runner standing on 3B and then touches 3B before the runner on 2B arrives from 2B.

A. This is not a double play
B. This is a double play

Answer: B
RULING: This is a double play. The runner lost the right to occupy 3B when the batter became a batter-runner. The runner on 3B is out on the tag and the runner on 2B is out at 3B on the force play. (1-FORCE OUT; 8-7C)