[Forest Ump]

Zoochy.....There are a few rules that address what you have asked.

OBR 5.02 After the umpire calls “Play” the ball is alive and in play and remains alive and in play until for legal cause, or at the umpire’s call of “Time” suspending play, the ball becomes dead. While the ball is dead no player may be put out, no bases may be run and no runs may be scored, except that runners may advance one or more bases as the result of acts which occurred while the ball was alive (such as, but not limited to a balk, an overthrow, interference, or a home run or other fair ball hit out of the playing field).

OBR 5.11 After the ball is dead, play shall be resumed when the pitcher takes his place on the pitcher’s plate with a new ball or the same ball in his possession and the plate umpire calls “Play.” The plate umpire shall call “Play” as soon as the pitcher takes his place on his plate with the ball in his possession.

The rule does not state that the batter has to be in the box and ready to go to put the ball in play. We usually wait for the batter to step in before putting the ball in play. We don’t let the pitcher quick pitch if the batter is getting ready. However, if the batter does not step in the box in due time, we can put the ball in play, order the pitcher to pitch, and call it for what it is even if the batter is not in the box. In HS ball it will always be a strike, maybe two.