A lot of league members think it's easy being an umpire. Here is an opportunity for you to walk in an umpire's shoes. Unlike league umpires in real-time situations, you will have the luxury of time and the ability to look it up on Google. And, I’ve made it really easy for you with only 2 multiple choice answers per question.

Too many are too critical of league umpires throughout the course of the softball year and think umpiring is a cinch. 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. It's all good.

Here is this year's edition of U Make The Call…

1. There is one out with runners on 1B and 2B in a non-coed league game. In a defensive maneuver, the left fielder sets up in the infield between the shortstop and third baseman. The batter hits an infield pop-up that could easily be handled by the repositioned left fielder, but instead he drops the ball near 3B.

A. Infield fly rule is in effect
B. Infield fly rule is not effect

2. With one out and a runner on 1B and 3B, the batter singles to right scoring the runner on 3B. The runner from 1B misses 2B but arrives safely at 3B and the batter is thrown out at 2B. The defense appeals that the runner from 1B missed 2B. The umpire declares the runner out. Does the runner from 3B score?

A. The run scores
B. The run does not score

3. The batter drives a double to center field. He/she misses 1B and while advancing to 2B the ball is overthrown into dead ball territory. A dead ball is ruled. The batter/runner is awarded 3B. The batter/runner advances to 3B, but then returns via 2B to touch 1B. The defense appeals the batter/runner missing 1B.

A. The batter/runner is ruled safe
B. The batter/runner is ruled out

4. A batter mistakenly believes he/she has struck out and leaves the field of play (enters the dugout area).

A. The batter is called out
B. The batter may return to the field of play and complete their at-bat without penalty

5. While attempting to catch a fly ball near dead-ball territory, the left fielder makes the catch with one foot touching the ground entirely in dead ball territory and the other foot touching the ground entirely in fair territory.

A. Legal catch
B. No catch

6. With a runner on 1B, the batter hits a ground ball to the second baseman who attempts to tag the runner retreating toward 1B. The ball is thrown to 1B to retire the batter and then the runner is tagged while on 1B.

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

7. A batter is standing n the batter’s box. To avoid being hit by the pitch, the batter moves out of the way and inadvertently touches home plate. The ball strikes the bat while the batter is in contact with home plate.

A. The ball is dead and the batter is declared out
B. The batter is not out

8. The batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop who throws to first base. The first baseman juggles the ball and it rolls up his/her arm and is clamped to the body by an elbow or forearm when the first baseman touches 1B prior to the batter reaching the bag.

A. The batter is out.
B. The batter is safe.

9. With nobody out and a runner on 3B, the batter hits a fly ball to right field that is caught. Prior to the ball reaching the right fielder, the third baseman yells ‘‘go’’. The runner leaves 3B too soon and the defense properly appeals.

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

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

Be careful, folks. Anyone submitting a perfect score of 9 correct will automatically be drafted as an umpire for SBA.

Guessing:
1. A
2. A
3. A
4. B
5. B
6. A
7. A
8. A
9. A

Am I to believe we have only 2 quiz takers thus far? During the 2022 softball year we had so many softball rules experts. Where are they now? LOL This tells me one of 2 things...

A. Moving forward, all SBA league members will be taking a much softer stance toward arguing with the umpires.
B. Most of the vocal minority of malcontents are unwilling to put themselves out there like league umpires have to do on a weekly basis.

Me thinks the answer is not A.

Bob/Alex, you guys don't have to worry about getting automatically drafted as league umpires, but 'thank you' for participating.

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

Scott, you as well don't have to worry about getting automatically drafted as a league umpire. May be best to stick to managing and writing game articles. LOL

Thanks for participating.

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

Nope! Curt Hensman won't be coming after you anytime soon. LOL Thanks for participating, Ryan.

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

These questions must be tougher than I thought. You're usually spot on every year, Bill. Don't expect a call from Curtis anytime soon. Lol Thanks for participating.

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

B
B
A
A
B
B
A
A
B

You've not a thing to worry about, AJ. Curtis will not be drafting you anytime soon, but thanks for your participation. LOL

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

Kevin and Richie, you guys are safe from the Curtis umpire vortex. Thanks for the participation.

Flash fared the best with 7 of 9 correct. blouderback, smf, and stoney finished with 6 of 9 correct. All in all, you guys fared just ok considering you had a 50/50 shot on each question and weren’t faced with a time constraint.

Umpiring is not an easy gig and I hope those that didn’t participate will at least concede how difficult it is and give league umpires the benefit of the doubt before ripping them a new orifice.

Thank you to those that participated. Thank you to those that followed along.

1. There is one out with runners on 1B and 2B in a non-coed league game. In a defensive maneuver, the left fielder sets up in the infield between the shortstop and third baseman. The batter hits an infield pop-up that could easily be handled by the repositioned left fielder, but instead he drops the ball near 3B.

A. Infield fly rule is in effect
B. Infield fly rule is not effect

The correct answer is A
RULING: The infield fly rule is in effect. (1-INFIELDER; 1-INFIELD FLY; 1-OUTFIELDER; 8-2I)

2. With one out and a runner on 1B and 3B, the batter singles to right scoring the runner on 3B. The runner from 1B misses 2B but arrives safely at 3B and the batter is thrown out at 2B. The defense appeals that the runner from 1B missed 2B. The umpire declares the runner out. Does the runner from 3B score?

A. The run scores
B. The run does not score

The correct answer is A
RULING: The run scores. The third out was not a force out. Whenever the batter makes the first out of multiple outs, all forces are eliminated. (1-FORCE OUT; 5-5B)

3. The batter drives a double to center field. He/she misses 1B and while advancing to 2B the ball is overthrown into dead ball territory. A dead ball is ruled. The batter/runner is awarded 3B. The batter/runner advances to 3B, but then returns via 2B to touch 1B. The defense appeals the batter/runner missing 1B.

A. The batter/runner is ruled safe
B. The batter/runner is ruled out

The correct answer is B
RULING: The batter/runner is ruled out. Once a base/runner advances to the next awarded base, the runner may no longer return to touch any base missed or any base left too soon. (8-5G Effect)

4. A batter mistakenly believes he/she has struck out and leaves the field of play (enters the dugout area).

A. The batter is called out
B. The batter may return to the field of play and complete their at-bat without penalty

The correct answer is B
RULING: Unlike a base runner, the batter may be summoned from off the field of play and return to complete their turn at bat without penalty. No other offensive player has the same benefit of abandoning their position and returning without being declared out. Rule 12.11 applies to a runner abandoning a base or effort to run the bases, not to a batter abandoning the batter’s box.

5. While attempting to catch a fly ball near dead-ball territory, the left fielder makes the catch with one foot touching the ground entirely in dead ball territory and the other foot touching the ground entirely in fair territory.

A. Legal catch
B. No catch

The correct answer is B
RULING: No catch should be ruled when a foot is touching the ground entirely in dead ball territory. (1-CATCH/NO CATCH-A[3]; 1-DEAD BALL)

6. With a runner on 1B, the batter hits a ground ball to the second baseman who attempts to tag the runner retreating toward 1B. The ball is thrown to 1B to retire the batter and then the runner is tagged while on 1B.

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

The correct answer is A
RULING: The runner is safe. The runner is free to return to 1B after the batter is retired and the force out is removed. (1-FORCE OUT)

7. A batter is standing n the batter’s box. To avoid being hit by the pitch, the batter moves out of the way and inadvertently touches home plate. The ball strikes the bat while the batter is in contact with home plate.

A. The ball is dead and the batter is declared out
B. The batter is not out

The correct answer is A
RULING: The ball is dead and the batter is declared out. No intent to hit the ball is necessary. (1-BATTED BALL; 1-ILLEGALLY BATTED BALL-B; 7-6E)

8. The batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop who throws to first base. The first baseman juggles the ball and it rolls up his/her arm and is clamped to the body by an elbow or forearm when the first baseman touches 1B prior to the batter reaching the bag.

A. The batter is out
B. The batter is safe

The correct answer is B
The batter is safe. The defense must securely hold the ball in the glove or hand before the runner touches the bag. (1-TAG-A; 1-CATCH/NO CATCH-A[2])

9. With nobody out and a runner on 3B, the batter hits a fly ball to right field that is caught. Prior to the ball reaching the right fielder, the third baseman yells ‘‘go’’. The runner leaves 3B too soon and the defense properly appeals.

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

The correct answer is A
RULING: The runner is out for leaving 3B without properly tagging up. Although this is a distracting act, there is no penalty for a defensive player yelling. (1-OBSTRUCTION-B)