Israel Baseball Catch and Carry for the Junior and Cadet League
Junior and Cadet League Teams and Umpires:
The following provides a universal ground rules on a “catch and carry” for our Junior and Cadet League. A “catch and carry” is when a fielder catches a batted or thrown ball on the playing field and then carries it into an out-of-play area. You are encouraged to read both the Playing Rules Committee Rulings which are followed by Official Baseball Rules 5.06 (b) (3) (C) Comment, 5.06 (b) (4) (F), 5.09 (a) (1) Comment, 5.12 (b) (6) if you are coaching or umpiring in the Junior or Cadet League.
NOTE: In 2016, Official Baseball Rule 5.06 (b) (3) (C) Comment, 5.09 (a) (1) Comment, 5.12 (b) (6) were changed to no longer distinguish between a fielder stepping or falling into an out-of-play area including a dugout or spectator area. The Official Baseball Rules now say:
If a fielder, after having made a legal catch, should step or fall into any out-of-play area, the ball is dead and each runner shall advance one base, without liability to be put out, from his last legally touched base at the time the fielder entered such out-of-play area.
Because local ground rules “shall not conflict with the official playing rules” that part of any local ground rules which contradict the following Official Baseball Rules and the Playing Rules Committee Rulings is null and void:
Playing Rules Committee and IAB Chief Umpire Rulings:
(1) The “catch and carry” has been extended in professional baseball and adopted by the Premier,
Junior and Cadet League to include thrown balls that are caught by a fielder on the playing field (fair and foul territory) who then steps or falls into any out-of-play area. The ball shall be dead and base runners shall advance one base, without liability to be put out, from the time the fielder entered such out-of-play area.
(2) The “catch and carry” has also been extended in professional baseball and adopted by the Junior and Cadet League to include fair bounding batted balls that are possessed on the playing field and carried into an out-play area due to the fielder’s momentum. If such balls are bobbled as the fielder enters dead ball territory, they are considered as deflected out-of-play under Official Baseball Rule 5.06 (b) (4) (F). If a fielder having complete possession of a fair bounding batted ball, steps or falls into any out-of-play area, the ball shall be dead and base runners shall advance one base, without liability to be put out, from the time the fielder entered such out-of-play area.
Premier, Junior and Cadet League
Official Baseball Rules Official Rule 5.06 Running the Bases
(b) Advancing Bases
(3) Each runner, other than the batter, may without liability to be put out, advance one base when:
(C) A fielder, after catching a fly ball, steps or falls into any out-of-play area;
Rule 5.06 (b) (3) (C) Comment: If a fielder, after having made a legal catch, should step or fall into any out-of-play area, the ball is dead and each runner shall advance one base, without liability to be put out, from his last legally touched base at the time the fielder entered such out-of-play area.
(4) Each runner including the batter-runner may, without liability to be put out, advance:
(F) Two bases, if a fair ball bounces or is deflected into the stands outside the first or third base foul lines; or if it goes through or under a field fence, or through or under a scoreboard, or through or under shrubbery or vines on the fence; or if it sticks in such fence, scoreboard, shrubbery or vines;
Official Rule 5.09 Making an Out
(a) Retiring the Batter
A batter is out when:
(1) His fair or foul fly ball (other than a foul tip) is legally caught by a fielder;
Rule 5.09 (a) (1) Comment: A fielder may reach into, but not step into, a dugout to make a catch, and if he holds the ball, the catch shall be allowed. A fielder, in order to make a catch on a foul ball nearing a dugout or other out-of-play area (such as the stands), must have one or both feet on or over the playing surface (including the lip of the dugout) and neither foot on the ground inside the dugout or in any other out-of-play area. Ball is in play, unless the fielder, after making a legal catch, steps or falls into a dugout or other out-of-play area, in which case the ball is dead. Status of runners shall be as described in Rule 5.06 (b) (3) (C) Comment.
Official Rule 5.12 Calling “Time” and Dead Balls
(b) The ball becomes dead when an umpire calls “Time.” The umpire-in-chief shall call “Time:
(6) When a fielder, after catching a fly ball, steps or falls into any out-of-play area. All other runners shall advance one base, without liability to be put out, from his last legally touched base at the time the fielder entered such out-of-play area.
After the ball is dead, play shall be resumed when the pitcher takes his place on the pitcher’s plate with a new ball or the same ball in his possession and the plate umpire calls “Play.” The plate umpire shall call “Play” as soon as the pitcher takes his place on his plate with the ball in his possession.