Which statement best defines obstruction in NFHS baseball?

Which statement best defines obstruction in NFHS baseball?

• A. A ball that is dead
• B. An act by a fielder not in possession of the ball that hinders a runner or batter-runner.
• C. A strike
• D. An illegal pitch

Answer: (B)

Obstruction happens when a fielder who does not have the ball uses a position or their body to hinder a runner or batter-runner. The key is that the defender is in a hindering action while not in possession of the ball, and the ball is still live. Because the runner’s progress is impeded, the umpire awards the base the runner would have reached had the obstruction not occurred. This is different from a ball being dead, a strike, or an illegal pitch, which involve other situations and do not describe hindrance by a fielder without the ball.

Obstruction happens when a fielder who does not have the ball uses a position or their body to hinder a runner or batter-runner. The key is that the defender is in a hindering action while not in possession of the ball, and the ball is still live. Because the runner’s progress is impeded, the umpire awards the base the runner would have reached had the obstruction not occurred.

This is different from a ball being dead, a strike, or an illegal pitch, which involve other situations and do not describe hindrance by a fielder without the ball.