[Dakota]

Glen pointed out in another thread that the NFHS has their rules interps online now.

They help clarify this a lot.

Here are the interps that apply:

SITUATION 4: With a 3-2 count on the batter, she fouls the ball, which moves directly to the catcher’s shoulder, ricochets toward the third-base line and is caught by the pitcher. RULING: Dead ball, foul ball; the batter remains at bat. (2-25-1g)

This ruling is the same with or without the wording change.

SITUATION 5: With a 2-2 count on the batter, she fouls the ball and it goes sharply and directly to the catcher’s mitt and is caught by the catcher. RULING: Caught foul tip on a third strike; the batter is out and runners (if any) may advance at their own risk. (2-25-2)

Again, same as before.

SITUATION 6: R1 is on second base with one out. With a 1-0 count, B3 squares to bunt. B3 bunts the ball in the air just in front of home plate. F2 dives forward to make the catch. As the ball comes down, it hits F2’s helmet and ricochets to F3, who catches the ball in flight. RULING: B3 is out on the catch and the ball remains live. (2-20-1d; 2-20-2; 2-10-1; 8-2-3)

Again, same as before.

SITUATION 16: B1 fouls off a pitched ball with a 1-1 count. The ball (a) moves directly from the bat to the catcher's shin guard and then ricochets forward toward F5, who catches the ball in flight; (b) moves directly from the bat to the catcher's shoulder, caroms upward, and is then caught by the catcher; or (c) moves off the bat with a perceptible arc, bounces off the catcher's chest protector, caroms forward, and is then caught by the catcher. RULING: In (a) and (b), the ball is foul and becomes dead at the time it came in contact with the catcher's equipment directly off the bat. In (c), since the ball traveled from the bat with a perceptible arc and was caught by the catcher, B1 is out on the caught foul ball and the ball remains live. (2-25-1g; 5-1-1d2; 2-10-1)

(a) and (b) are the same as before. In (c), NFHS makes it clear that if the batted ball has a perceptable arc, it cannot be a foul tip and it is a live ball still after hitting the catcher's equipment. At least that is how I read it.

BTW, I don't like their use of the term "caught foul ball" in this ruling. The ball was not foul to begin with (at least, not yet.)