North Regina Little League Umpire Exam Level I

The given scenario describes a line drive hit by a batter. The ball first hits the pitcher's glove but is then caught by the shortstop before it touches the ground. This sequence of events fulfills the criteria for a catch in baseball, as the ball was caught by a fielder before it hit the ground. Therefore, the correct answer is "Catch."

When a batter is hit by a pitch, it is considered a dead ball. This means that the play is immediately stopped, and the batter is awarded first base. The ball is considered dead because it is not in play anymore and no further action can be taken by the players. This rule is in place to protect the batter from potential injury and to ensure fair play.

The correct answer is False. The umpire would not call a strike in this situation because for a pitch to be called a strike, it must pass through the strike zone at a height between the batter's knees and chest. In this case, the ball bounced in the dirt before reaching the plate, so it did not pass through the strike zone at the correct height.

A base runner is not out if hit by a fair batted ball after it touches a fielder's glove. According to the rules of baseball, a base runner is only out if they are hit by a fair batted ball before it touches a fielder. Therefore, the statement is false.

All portions of all three bases and home plate being completely within fair territory means that these areas are all located within the boundaries of the playing field where the ball is considered in play. This ensures that any contact made with the bases or home plate by the players is considered fair and valid. Therefore, the correct answer is true.

If a base runner is hit by a fair batted ball before a fielder has a chance to touch it, they are considered out. This rule is in place to prevent base runners from interfering with the play and potentially gaining an unfair advantage. The purpose is to ensure that the fielders have a fair opportunity to make a play on the ball without any hindrance from the base runner. Therefore, the statement is true.

A batted ground ball that lands fair but rolls foul after it passes third base is not considered a foul ball. According to the rules of baseball, if a ball initially lands fair, it is considered fair regardless of where it rolls afterwards. Therefore, the correct answer is false.

The statement is false because according to the rules of baseball, if a batter misses first base while rounding it and heads to second, the umpire cannot call him out immediately. The opposing team must appeal the missed base by either tagging the runner or touching first base before the runner returns to it. If the appeal is successful, then the batter will be called out for missing the base.

The fielder successfully caught the ball, but dropped it while attempting to make a throw after the catch. Therefore, it is considered a catch because the fielder had complete control of the ball initially.

False. According to the rules of baseball, if a runner leaves the base before a fly ball is caught, they are not automatically out. The runner can be tagged out if the fielder catches the ball and throws it to the base before the runner returns. However, if the runner tags up after the ball is caught and then tries to advance to the next base, they can be tagged out if the fielder throws the ball to the base before the runner reaches it.

In baseball, a runner may tag up and advance after a foul fly ball is caught. This means that if a batter hits a fly ball that is caught by a fielder, the runner who was on base at the time of the hit can attempt to advance to the next base after the catch is made. This rule allows the runner to take advantage of the fact that the fielder had to make a play on the ball, potentially giving the runner an opportunity to advance while the fielder is focused on making the catch.

When a batter swings at a third strike but is hit by the pitch, the batter is not awarded first base. According to the rules of baseball, if a batter swings at a pitch and is then hit by that pitch, it is considered a strikeout. The batter is out and is not awarded first base. Therefore, the correct answer is false.

A fly ball that passes over third base and lands in foul territory beyond third base is considered a foul ball because any ball that lands outside the field of play is considered foul. In this case, even though the ball passed over third base, it still landed in foul territory, which means it is not a fair ball and is therefore considered a foul ball.

The base umpire should be between second and first base because this position allows them to have a clear view of both the runner at first base and any potential plays that may occur between second and first base. Being in this position also allows them to make accurate calls on whether the runner is safe or out when attempting to advance to second base.

The base umpire should be positioned between the shortstop and second base because this allows them to have a clear view of the play at second base. Being in this position also enables the umpire to make accurate calls on plays such as force outs, tag plays, and stolen bases. Additionally, being between the shortstop and second base allows the umpire to be in a good position to see any potential obstruction or interference by the defensive players.

The correct answer is to wait to see the position of the ball when it first touched, or comes to a stop, if not touched. This is because in baseball, a bunted ball that lands outside of the foul line is not immediately considered foul. The ball must either be touched or come to a stop in order for the umpire to determine its position. Therefore, the umpire should wait and observe the ball before making a call.

It is not legal for a runner to run into a fielder fielding a ground ball, regardless of whether the fielder is on the base line or not. According to the rules of baseball, the runner is required to avoid any intentional contact with a fielder who is in the act of fielding a ball. Making contact with the fielder can result in the runner being called out for interference. Therefore, the correct answer is false.

In Senior Rookie, Minor and Major baseball, base runners are not allowed to leave their base until the ball has reached the batter. This means that they must wait for the ball to cross the plate before attempting to advance to the next base. This rule is in place to prevent the runners from gaining an unfair advantage by leaving their base early.

If a fielder touches a fair batted ball with a hat or glove that he throws at the ball, the batter will be awarded a triple and all baserunners will score. This is because it is considered an illegal action, known as "throwing equipment," which results in the batter and baserunners being awarded extra bases.

If both runners are on second base and there are no other base runners, the second runner is out if tagged. This means that if the defensive team tags the second runner before they reach the base, they are considered out.

The base umpire should be standing behind first base in foul territory when there are no runners on base. This position allows the umpire to have a clear view of the first base area and any plays that may occur there. Being in foul territory also ensures that the umpire does not obstruct the view of the fielders or interfere with any potential play.

The first baseman has violated the rule of obstruction. Obstruction occurs when a defensive player hinders or impedes the progress of a baserunner. In this scenario, the first baseman's presence near his regular position and not moving out of the way caused the batter to nearly run into him. This obstruction affected the batter's ability to round first base smoothly and potentially impacted his chances of reaching third base safely.

A base runner is not automatically out if he leaves the base too soon. Instead, leaving the base too soon is called "leaving early" or "baserunner interference," and it results in a penalty. The penalty varies depending on the league or level of play, but it typically involves the runner being called out and any other runners being returned to their previous bases. Therefore, the statement is false.

Infield Fly is called as a live ball. This means that even after the Infield Fly is called, the ball remains in play and the runners can still advance at their own risk. The purpose of the Infield Fly rule is to prevent the fielders from intentionally dropping an easy fly ball in order to get a double play. By calling it a live ball, the game can continue without any interruption.

When a batted ball accidentally hits a baserunner in front of the shortstop, it is considered a dead ball. This means that the play is immediately stopped, and all runners must return to their original bases. The baserunner is not out, and the batter is awarded first base. This rule is in place to prevent unfair advantages or disadvantages caused by the ball hitting a baserunner.

The call of "Infield Fly, if Fair" is incorrect in this scenario. According to the rules of baseball, for an infield fly to be called, there must be runners on first and second base (or bases loaded) with less than two outs. Since the scenario only mentions R1 and R3 being out, there are no runners on first and second base and therefore the infield fly rule does not apply. Therefore, the correct answer is False.

If a pitched ball hits the sleeve of the batter but does not hit the batter's body, the umpire should still award the batter first base. According to the rules of baseball, if a pitched ball touches any part of the batter's person, including the clothing or equipment, the batter is entitled to first base. Therefore, the correct answer is False.

In this situation, the umpire should speak to both coaches and inform them that if the abuse from the fan does not stop, the game will end with a forfeit. This is the correct answer because it addresses the issue of intense criticism and profanity from the fan, which can create a hostile environment for the umpire and disrupt the game. By involving both coaches, the umpire is taking a proactive approach to resolve the situation and ensure a fair and safe playing environment for everyone involved. Additionally, the consequence of a 7-0 loss for the team favored by the fan serves as a deterrent for future misconduct from spectators.

If a base runner on second base leaves too soon and the batter hits a single, the runner must return to second base. This is because if the runner leaves before the ball is hit, they are considered to have left early and are not allowed to advance to the next base. They must go back to the base they were on before the pitch was thrown. Therefore, the statement "True" is correct.

According to the infield fly rule, the batter is automatically out if he hits an infield fly ball with 0 out and the bases loaded. This rule is in place to prevent the defense from intentionally dropping the ball in order to turn a double play or force out multiple runners. By calling the batter out, it ensures that the defense cannot take advantage of the situation and potentially eliminate multiple runners with one play.

In this situation, the first baseman catches the line drive before it touches the ground. However, since the ball hit the base umpire before being caught, it is considered a dead ball. According to the rules, any batted ball that touches an umpire before being caught is considered a no catch. Therefore, the correct answer is "No Catch."

A batted ball that goes sharply and directly back into the catcher's chest protector and drops to the ground is called a foul ball. This occurs when the batter hits the ball in a way that it does not stay within the boundaries of the field of play, typically outside the foul lines. The ball hitting the catcher's chest protector does not affect the ruling of it being a foul ball.

Players can protest an umpire's judgment call, such as a safe/out or ball/strike, but coaches cannot. This means that if a player disagrees with the umpire's decision, they have the right to express their disagreement and potentially protest the call. However, coaches do not have this privilege and cannot protest judgment calls. Therefore, the correct answer is false.

The correct call by the umpire is to call the runner out and eject him. No run scores. This is because the runner made no attempt to avoid the catcher and caused a collision, resulting in the catcher dropping the ball. According to the rules, a runner must avoid unnecessary collisions with fielders, especially when they are in possession of the ball. In this case, the runner's actions were deemed unsportsmanlike and deserving of an ejection. Additionally, since the catcher dropped the ball as a result of the collision, the run does not count.

In Rule 2.0, the definition of a "Ball" has a case book ruling that specifically covers this situation.

It is a foul-tip since it was caught and therefore called a strike with the ball still alive. The batter is called out for interference and R2 must return to 2nd since runners may not advance on offensive interference.

The explanation for the answer "False" is that according to the rules of baseball, if a batted ball lands in foul territory and then settles on home plate, it is considered a fair ball. Therefore, the correct call by the umpire in this scenario would be Fair Ball, not Foul Ball.

The explanation for the given correct answer (False) is that the umpire made the correct call according to the rules of baseball. In this situation, when an infield fly is called, the batter is automatically out regardless of whether the ball is caught or not. The purpose of the rule is to prevent the defense from intentionally dropping the ball to create a double play opportunity. Therefore, R2 should not be sent back to second base and the umpire's decision was incorrect.

The statement is false because when a runner is stealing second base and there is a foul tip, the umpire does not need to call "Time" and return the runner to first base. The play continues and the runner is allowed to continue attempting to steal second base.

The base umpire should be between short stop and second base because this position allows them to have a clear view of both the runner on first base and the runner on third base. Being in this position also allows the umpire to make accurate calls on plays that may occur between second base and first base.

The ruling in this situation is a fair ball and a ground rule double. Even though the left fielder touched the ball while standing in foul territory, the ball was over fair territory when it was touched. Since the ball then deflected off the fielder's glove and traveled over the fence on the foul side of the foul pole, it is considered a fair ball. According to the ground rules of the game, this type of hit results in a ground rule double.

The ball is considered foul in this scenario because the fielder touched the ball in foul territory, even though his feet were in fair territory. According to the rules of baseball, a ball is considered foul if it is touched or caught by a fielder in foul territory. Therefore, the correct answer is False.

When a thrown ball hits an umpire, it is considered a live ball. This means that the play is still active and the ball is in play. The umpire is considered part of the field, and if the ball makes contact with them, it is treated the same as if it had hit any other object on the field. The game continues without interruption, and players can still make plays and advance bases based on the situation.

When the batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop and the throw to first goes over the first baseman's head and rolls out of bounds, it is considered a dead ball. In this situation, the batter-runner is awarded second base. Since there was already a runner at second (R2), they are also allowed to advance one base. Therefore, the batter-runner goes to second base and R2 scores a run.

The fielder did not complete the catch because he dropped the ball after colliding with another fielder. In order for a catch to be considered valid, the fielder must maintain control of the ball throughout the entire process, including any subsequent actions such as colliding with another player. Since the ball was dropped as a result of the collision, it is considered a "No Catch".

An umpire does not need to vocalize all foul tips and foul balls to avoid confusion. While vocalizing can help in certain situations, it is not a requirement. Umpires use various signals and gestures to communicate with players, coaches, and other officials on the field. These signals are often sufficient to indicate whether a play is a foul tip or a foul ball, reducing the need for vocalization. Additionally, umpires rely on their judgment and positioning to make accurate calls, and vocalization is not always necessary for clarity.

After R1 is safe at second, the second baseman attempts to throw out the batter-runner. However, the ball goes out of play. According to the ruling, when a defensive player throws the ball out of play, any runners who have advanced at least one base at the time of the throw are awarded an additional base. Since R1 had already reached second before the throw, they are awarded an additional base and score a run. The batter-runner, who was still at first, also advances an additional base and goes to third. Therefore, the correct answer is R1 scores, batter-runner to third.