[More Cowbell]

Ok guys you were awesome for this dad last time. What do you think about this, and again, sorry for any terminology booting...still learning. 13U tourney, my son asked to fill in, FED rues I think. 3-3, bottom of seventh, bases loaded, 2-2 count. Batter swings, misses; PU rules ball struck hand then:

* time is called. PU gives batter first base, runners advance, run scores; we "win" and jump up and down etc. I'm thinking, "Ummm that ain't right." Other manager goes nuts, umps confer (two man crew) then:

* the obviously more experienced FU (is that right term?) says to our manager after lenghty conference with partner, "Coach, ball hit his hand on a swing. That's a strike." Call changed to "out," game ends again, now in a tie. But.....our manager is freaking out just a bit and his staff, saying stuff like, "The hand is part of the bat! Did they change that rule? Etc." I think, "Wait a minute, even though we didn't win, they did get it right." Not so fast. The tourney director is summoned, and after long delay, he comes over and even gestures with his hands and says, "Ball hit hand...part of bat...foul ball..."

* Everyone back to their places. You know what comes next: first pitch, base hit, we "win" for the second time. I probably shouldn't have, but I went to their dugot and said, "You guys got screwed, sorry man!" I would just hate for that to happen to us. You know how the baseball karma gods are; I hope they were sleeping...we might play this same team tomorrow in the finals. A parent who agreed with me said, "One of the coaches said he played AA ball and the hand is part of the bat...it's a special consideration..." I answered, "But I read The Officail Forum! We got a gift." I felt like asking the ump who got it right how he could let them overrule the correct call, but I didn't.

Two questions: 1.) Should I tell our manager the correct call to protect the same scenario from happening against us...? 2.) When a ball is swung on, missed, but hits hand, is it a dead ball batter out, or an uncaught third strike and batter can run to first? (My gut says dead ball, but I'm not sure.)

Thanks again in advance. Isn't the "hand part of bat thing" one of the umping 101 rules every ump should know? (I need to get a life methinks.)
MC