[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by JEL
Downtown, and Bagman both raise interesting points which we considered in our final ruling.

A bit more info, Downtown, actually the bat wasn't thrown far at all, about 5 feet from home towards 3B dugout. These fields were built with a 3.5' concrete wall as the lower part of the backstop. Wild pitches can bounce almost anywhere, even back to the pitcher at times. I call it our "green monster" and is has broken at least one catchers arm!

Bagman, I thought about POE 51 (and that is what our ruling was loosely based on), but POE 32B gave us the option of saying INT had not occured. The diifference I am reading between the two is 32 clarifies 51 stating that released bat hitting the catcher and preventing is INT, where as merely dropping the bat and catcher tripping over it is not.

All of the bat hitting ball rulings I can find deal with a fair hit ball, and not a wild pitch. The catcher was chasing the ball, and in my judgement would have been able to keep the second run from scoring, assuming she could actually pick up the ball. She was 6-8 feet from it when the bat sent it out past 3B allowing second run to score.

The defensive coach was screaming "detached equipment, thats a dead ball" which I knew wasn't right, so I let it all finish noting position of runners at time of bat contact. I then conferred with my partner, who happens to be our UIC, (the first time I have ever called with him). We decided that POE 51 should apply, because the catcher may have had a play on the ball. We returned R2 to 3B, and BR to 1B, bringing up a new batter. This placated both coaches, but the defensive coach (who has supposedly umpired for 18 years) wanted to make sure there was no count on the batter!

Even though the call made both benches happy, I am convinced now it was wrong. Play should have stood as it went down. I may never see an exact copy of this one, but if it comes up again, I will know how to rule! BTW, offensive team was ahead by 3 runs, going on to win by 6-1.

POE 32B does not apply. You are not dealing with a batter, but a batter-runner.

Forget the POE. Go to ASA 8.2.F for your answer. The BR is out and the runners returned. Next batter, please.