overthrows

Question
QUESTION: What is the definition of an overthrow? I was wondering if it was simply a ball that goes out of play or is it a ball that goes out of play without being touched by another fielder after being thrown? Situation: 1. Batted ball to any infielder.  2. Infielder throws to 1st.  3. Ball goes off glove of 1st baseman and then out of play.  4.  Close play, but batter touched 1st prior to ball reaching 1st baseman's glove.  Question: Does batter now get 3rd or is it 2 bases from where batter/runner is at the release point of throw?

ANSWER: Hi Matt,

Ok here's the def...............OVERTHROW: Occurs when a thrown ball from a fielder goes
A. beyond the boundary lines of the playing field (dead ball territory),
B. or becomes a blocked ball.

When we have an overthrow such as you describe above it would be 2 bases from the time of the throw from the fielder, so in this case 2nd.

Mark

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok.  Thanks, but to clarify since I was thinking of an overthrow in simpler terms (meaning I didn't know there was a definition for it).  I thought any throw that missed its intended mark, such as a cutoff man, would be an overthrow.  SO....in defintion terms a ball is not an 'overthrow' unless it leaves the boundary lines or is a 'blocked ball'.  My follow-up question is: what is considered a blocked ball? Is it a ball that becomes obstructed? Thanks

Answer
Hi Matt,

An "overthrow" is a ball that goes out of play, otherwise (such as missing a cut off) it is live ball and we play on.  It is always 2 bases from the last base touched (in ASA) from when the throw left the defensive players hand, unless it is a pitched ball that gets by the catcher and goes out of play, then 1 base for runners and a ball on the batter.

BLOCKED BALL: A batted, pitched or thrown ball that is touched, stopped or handled by a person not engaged in the game, or which touches loose equipment or any object that is not part of the official equipment or official playing area.

So you can have a blocked ball by the offense or defense and they have different penalties.

Say a throw (has not left the field of play)hits an offensive bat outside the dugout (not the batter's bat) we have a blocked ball, dead ball and all runners return to the last base touched unless it prevented the defense from making an out, then the runner being played upon would be out.


Say it hits a defensive coach sitting on their bucket outside the dugout.  Blocked ball, dead ball, all runners get 2 bases from the time of the throw.

Mark