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ASA Men's SP Rec league. In three years of umpiring, I've never before had a runner hit by a batted ball. Last night I had R1 on 2B, 2 outs. B2 hits a low line drive that the pitcher reaches down to tip with the edge of the web of his glove. This changes the ball's direction, and the ball goes directly towards R1 and hits him in the foot as he is running between 2B and 3B. Both F5 and F6 are behind R1. I call R1 out for being hit by the batted ball, third out, end of half inning. As defensive players are coming off the field. I stop and think about it and realize that I made the wrong call. Defensive players try to tell me that I can't change my call. I say that I can indeed correct this situation. I explain to both teams that R1 is not out, since the batted ball was first deflected before it hit R1 and he did not intentionally try to interfere with/get hit by the ball. I send the defense back onto the field to get the final out, I award B2 1B since I had ruled the deflected ball dead when it hit the runner before it had passed a fielder (IS THAT CORRECT?), and put R1 back on 2B, as I don't allow him to advance since he was not forced from 2B. Was this correct?
Or was the play supposed to be a live ball and play should have continued without me stopping the play? If that's the case, was my correction of the situation the proper one?
Thanks in advance.
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