Little League Rules Stump-o-rama


By Ace Holleran, Umpire Consultant, District 2, Connecticut. You can email me here with the critique that I know will come.

Assume rules for LL majors (11-12). Note that #4 applies to baseball only. Take it for granted that every part of each question is true, except maybe some sideline hijinx.

At least one answer is correct for each question. Check each answer that you think is true according to the rules. If any part of an option is false, do not check the box. When you submit the form, an answer key (with explanations) will pop up. NO CLICKING EARLY!

1. Player Abel, the starting shortstop, comes to the mound between innings 2 and 3, and throws a warm-up pitch to F2. Coach of defensive team does not announce the change and sneaks behind dugout to light up a Chesterfield. He then claims that Baker, who had been pitching previously, is still the pitcher, and attempts to send Abel back to F6.

a. Baker takes the rest of warm-ups.
b. Baker remains the pitcher.
c. Neither Abel or Baker may pitch
d. Abel is the new pitcher; he must pitch to at least 1 batter.
e. Abel is ejected.
f. Baker cannot return to pitch in that game.
g. Abel must leave the game, but can return later.
h. Coach switches to Parliament Lights.

2. R1, R2; 0 outs. B1 hits fair fly to F6, who settles under the ball. R2 strays off the base and accidentally interferes with F6's catch. The ball drops to the ground, and the funnel cake lady drops raw dough onto the scorekeeper's book. F6 picks up the ball, and touches 2B before R1 arrives.

a. Umpires declare dead ball on R2's interference. R2 is called out.
b. R1 is out on the force.
c. B1 is out.
d. The ball is alive; both B1 and R1 are declared out.
e. No interference is called on R2 since contact was unintentional.
f. B1 is allowed to remain at first.
g. R1 is returned to 1B.
h. The funnel-cake lady must now serve only lemon ice for the remainder of the game.

3. R3, 1 out. B1 hits a fair ball, but deliberately flings his bat at F1, who is not involved in the play. The bat does not hit F1. R3 scores; B1 achieves second base safely. The home plate umpire judges that B1 is has committed an ejectionable offense. Plus, B1's father is the president of the league.

a. Dead ball is called as soon as B1 hurls the bat.
b. B1's double is allowed.
c. B1 is ejected immediately upon throwing the bat.
d. B1 is ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct after play phase is over.
e. R3 remains at third.
f. R3's run is allowed.
g. B1 is called out.
h. A pinch runner replaces B1 on 2B.

4. R1, R2. 1 out. R1 leaves before the pitch is struck by B1. A red flag is dropped by U1. B1 grounds to F6 whose throw to F3 is too late to retire B1. R2 tries to reach home, F3 throws to F2, who tags R2 before he touches home. B1 has now rounded 1B and draws a throw from F2 to F3. F2's throw leaves live-ball territory. R1 has reached 2B when F2 releases his throw.

a. The out on R2 stands.
b. R2 is returned to 3B.
c. B1 is awarded 3B.
d. Umpires declare ball dead when F2's throw leaves the field.
e. R1 is awarded home.
f. R2 is awarded home.
g. B1 is placed at 1B.
h. R1 is placed at 2B.
i. R1 is returned to 1B.
j. B1 is removed from 1B.

5. Assume alphabetical batting order. Proper batter Amos leads off the inning and triples. Brad walks. David bats improperly in Chuck's place. During David's at-bat, Amos scores on a passed ball; Brad advances to 2B on the same pitch. David then hits a clean single, advancing Brad to third. Defensive team appeals after the play phase is over, claiming that David was an improper batter.

a. The proper batter is now Chuck.
b. Chuck is declared out.
c. Brad is returned to 1B.
d. Brad is returned to 2B.
e. David's single is allowed.
f. David is removed from base.
g. The proper batter is now David.
h. Amos' score counts.
i. The proper batter is now Ezekiel.
j. Ezekiel develops a personality disorder due to his on his nerdy, biblical name.
k. Amos is returned to 3B.
l. David is declared out.

6. R1; 1 out. With a count of 1-1, B1 attempts a bunt. The next pitch strikes the bat and arcs about 12 inches in the air, below B1's shoulders. F3 catches the ball cleanly behind the dish, over foul territory.

a. Umpire calls FOUL.
b. The ball is dead.
c. B1 is declared out on foul fly.
d. Coach of offensive team decides he's better off in an ASA environment.
e. R1 can choose to tag up as soon as F2 touches the ball.
f. Umpire calls STRIKE 2.
g. The ball remains alive.

7. Bases loaded, 2 outs. B1 hits a gapper to left-center. R3 scores. R1 misses second base, but achieves third base safely. F5 takes live ball and tags R1, who is standing on third, and appeals to umpire that R1 missed 2B. This tag occurs before R2 crosses the plate. B1 reaches 2B after F5 tags R1.

a. No runs score on the entire play phase.
b. Only R3's run is allowed.
c. This is an improper appeal since R1 is standing on 3B.
d. Appeal is granted on R1; he is declared out. Inning over.
e. Both R3's and R2's runs are allowed.
f. B1 remains at second.
g. B1 is returned to 1B.
h. R1 is returned to 2B.
i. R1 remains at 3B.

8. R1. 0 out. B1, with a count of 3-2 swings at the next pitch. The ball first strikes B1's hand, which is on the bat. Then the ball strikes the bat and rolls fair. F2 fires to F4 who tags R1 before he reaches 2B, but the relay is late to retire B1, who calls U1 a "cheeky monkey."

a. The ball is alive and in play.
b. R1's out stands.
c. B1 is out on strikes.
d. The ball is dead when it hits B1's hand.
e. B1 is awarded 1B.
f. R1 is awarded 2B.
g. R1 is returned to 1B.

9. Bases loaded, tie game, 2 outs, bottom of sixth inning in a six-inning game. B1 walks. After R1 reaches 2B, he runs past the base. F6 tags R1 before R3 crosses the plate.

a. R3's run scores; game over.
b. R3's run is disallowed; 3 outs; extra innings.
c. R1 can be out only on an appeal play.
d. R3's mother whisks him home so that he doesn't miss street-luge event on Spike-HD.

10. A six-inning game is scheduled. In the top of the sixth inning, the visitors score three runs to take the lead, 7-6. A sudden downpour causes umpires to end play for the day.

a. Play is resumed on another day from exact spot of interruption.
b. Visitors win, 7-6.
c. Home coach takes entire team to Olive Garden but limits their bill of fare to salad and breadsticks only.
d. Game is not resumed.
e. Game is resumed at beginning of the sixth inning, with home team ahead, 6-4.
f. Home team wins, 6-4.

11. B1 hits line drive to F1. The ball first strikes F1's glove, then lofts straight up into the air. F1's glove lands on the ground, and ball, without touching the ground, lands in F1's glove. F1 returns glove to the proper hand, without the ball touching the ground. Yes, nosybodies, I actually saw this play happen, so don't get me started.

a. B1 is out on F1's catch.
b. The ball is dead when it touches F1's glove for the second time.
c. B1 is awarded 2B.
d. B1 is awarded 3B.
e. The ball is alive and in play.
f. F1 is ejected for touching the batted ball with a detached glove.
g. F1 may attempt to retire B1.

12. 1 out. R2, R3. B1 hits a ground ball to F6. The ball strikes F6 and bounds into the path of R2, who unintentionally contacts the ball. R3 scores; B1 achieves 1B safely and R2 advances to 3B.

a. The ball is alive and in play.
b. R2 is called out for interference.
c. The run scores.
d. B1 is called out.
e. B1 is awarded 2B.
f. Base umpire evacuates nares into his red hanky.

13. R1, R2, R3. 1 out. B1 bunts the ball, which rises high in the air. F3 settles under the ball. F3 allows the untouched batted ball to drop at his feet, and picks it up in fair territory. He first tags R1, who is still standing on 1B. He then steps on 1B, while B1 is still in the batter's box. R3 crosses home before F3 steps on 1B.

a. The ball is dead on F3's miscue.
b. The ball is alive.
c. R3's run is allowed.
d. R3's run is not allowed.
e. B1 is called out.
f. B1 is awarded first base.
g. Infield fly rule is invoked.
h. R1 is out on F3's tag.
i. U1 retreats to defensive team's dugout after R1's mom brandishes a piece of kielbasa at him.

14. R1. B1 bunts. F2 removes his mask and touches the ball in fair territory. He pulls it back into foul territory. He picks up the ball in foul territory.

a. The ball is alive.
b. The ball is dead when F2 touches it with his mask.
c. Foul ball.
d. Fair ball.
e. F2 may retire either B1 or R1 at 3B.
f. R1 is awarded home.
g. B1 is awarded 2B only.
h. B1 is awarded 3B.
i. B1 may try to score at his own peril.

15. R1, R3. 0 outs. B1 hits a fly ball near the 1B line. R1 leaves base at the crack of the bat. F3 moves near the base path to catch the fly. B1 intentionally contacts F3 in foul territory. F3 touches the ball over fair territory but cannot display control due to B1's contact. R1 is standing on 2B when B1 contacts F3. B1 returns to bench where is knuckled-knocked by everyone.

a. Umpire kills play and calls INT on B1.
b. Foul ball is declared.
c. Ball is fair, alive and in play.
d. B1 is declared out.
e. R1 is declared out.
f. R3 may score.
g. R3 is declared out.
h. R1 is allowed to stay at 2B.
i. R1 may continue to 3B at his own peril.
j. R1 is returned to 1B.