ASA Ground ruled double?

[mihklo]

Batter hits ball to left fielder. Ball one hops fielder hits fielder and flies over fence. Batter is past first base on his way to second prior to the ball going over the fence. What's the ruling on this? Ground ruled double? Or does batter get 2 bases from the point of where he was when the ball went over fence?

 

[NCASAUmp]

In the judgment of the umpire, did the fielder provide the momentum by which the ball left the field, or was it merely a deflection?

If it was just a deflection, it's just a two-base award from the time of the pitch.

If, for example, the fielder was trying to scoop it, and in so doing knocked the ball forward and to his right and out of play, then it would be handled the same as if he had overthrown it - two bases from the time of contact. In this case, the fielder provided the momentum to send the ball out of play, not the batter.

 

[mihklo]

You know what rule it goes under for this?

Good to know it did come down to judgement. I wasn't sure so just wanted to ask.

Imo the batter did provide the momentum it was hit that hard. Lol.

 

[NCASAUmp]

It's rule 8-5-I-2