[JEL]

Originally posted by kellerumps
If the ball hits the bat .... Then you have nothing.
If the bat hits the ball .... Then you have dead ball and a out.

Agreed, but doesn't this apply only to a hit ball?

In this case it sounds like a mess and HTBT, however, based on whay you described I would have ruled a live ball .... Keep the runners where they ended up.

Yup, I believe that would have been the correct ruling. It wouldn't have gone over as well as what was ruled, but I am convinced it would have been the proper call.