Hit by pitch call

[danreeves1973]

First let me say I called my last FED rules HS game for the year last night. This was my first year calling with TASO, and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Now I start a month and a half of Dixie League, God be with me.

On to the question.

Batters in the box, pitch comes in way inside, from the moment it left the mound you could see it coming inside. He steps back a half step to avoid, but as he does, puts out his front hand and the ball hits his hand and arm, he amost caught the ball I think. I call dead ball, he trots to first. Defense coach comes out, questioning can he put up his arm like that to deflect the ball, Coach felt he was intentionally reaching to get hit. I tell him I think he tried to move, it was inside, he gets first, lets play ball.

So, if the pitch is coming for the batter and he sticks his arm to deflect instead of just jumping out of the way, do you call it a ball, leave him at bat or is this more a judgement call based on the situation?

Let me add in this situation, batters team was up 13-1 in the 4th, batter had already hit a triple and a grandslam earlier in the game. He didn't need to take one for the team.