[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Ohio uses NFHS baseball rules. This afternoon I umpired a boys' H.S. jr. varsity game.

Top of the first inning, 3-2 count on the lead-off batter (who is also the catcher for the visiting team). The pitch is delivered and it is in the middle of the plate horizontally but high as it passed over the plate. As the pitch passes over the plate the batter leans into the pitch and gets hit by the ball.

I was completely got off guard by the batter's actions, but I managed to remember to declare the ball dead and awarded the batter first base because the pitch was ball four.

I know that if the pitch had been in the strike zone, the ball would be dead automatically, and the batter is declared out on strikes.

I now I did the right thing, but it sured was a weird play. Any comments would be appreciated.