fake bunts

[Rbn3]

A little league team has been coached to take pitches by squaring around to bunt, then waving the bat back and forth over the plate (obviously trying to distract the pitcher) and then drawing the bat back. Usually the waving continues to the point of release or after. Does not the umpire need to call a strike if the bat is moving forward over the plate after a pitch is released?


A STRIKE is a legal pitch when so called by the umpire, which_
(a) Is struck at by the batter and is missed;

Also, is this not offensive interference?

(a) Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play. If the umpire declares the batter, batter runner, or a runner out for interference, all other runners shall return to the last base that was in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference, unless otherwise provided by these rules. In the event the batter runner has not reached first base, all runners shall return to the base last occupied at the time of the pitch.