BTW, major league umpires are pretty near flawless making these calls, I am sure they recognize the situation before it arises.
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Agreed... but I have noticed more and more that the IFR isn’t called on the HS level.
That explanation in last years Cardinal/National(?) IFR being called when it was apparently what the ‘softball people’ in my baseball days would have called the “SHORT FIELDER” was surprising to me since the interpretation (at least to me) seems to be “IF the ball is playable by an Infielder”.
In this case the SS was almost behind the LF and was calling the ball so the UMP called him out. (And, as I interpret the rule, a correct call).
I watch a lot of H.S. baseball at the Concord (MA) playground, where the Concond-Carlisle. Around here, the umpires seem to be first rate.