NFHS hit by pitch rule
 

Regarding the NFHS rule on HBP, this came up Saturday for me in a freshman playoff game. Tie game, bottom of the seventh with one out and the bases loaded. The pitcher throws inside and the pitch gets away, going straight at the batter's torso. The batter turns his shoulder in to where it hits him in the back, but in no way did he make an attempt to avoid being hit. Arguably, he tried to lessen the impact of the blow, but he didn't try to get out of the way. From his body language, you could tell he was only too happy to be hit in that situation.

I recognized the issue immediately, but I hesitated for a half-second while I thought it over. My partner, who is more experienced, called for the batter to go back to the batter's box. I immediately backed up my partner's call, but of course, the coach and fans on that side went ballistic.

Luckily, the call didn't matter as the batter got the game-winning hit. Nevertheless, I went to my case book to see if it shed light on the situation, and it didn't. Taken literally, the NFHS rule would not give first to the batter, but I really don't like that rule. That's not baseball the way I understand it.

I'd like some opinions from veteran high school umps on this.

Was the pitch a fastball or curve ball/off-speed pitch? I know that would matter to me.

Unless the batter turned to make themselves bigger or more likely to get hit, I am pretty much going to award first based on any pitch.

From my understanding the rules on this issue are pretty much the same at all levels. The rule is very similar in the NCAA ranks and the NCAA dealt with this issue in their 2006 Rules tape.

No batter can just allow the ball to hit them. You just do not see many NCAA or pro games where batters are purposely trying to get hit for a couple of reasons. The ball his thrown a lot harder and might do some damage when the ball hits you. Also the reaction time is less on a faster pitch. In HS the ball is thrown much slower and you are lucky if some of these batters can get up to the mid 80s let alone in the 90s.

This is a judgment call. If you feel the batter knew he was going to get hit and purposely got hit, then that is where you might enforce this rule. If the batter was trying to avoid injury and moving away from a bad pitch, then give them first. From your description it sounds like the batter did nothing wrong. The only way I might keep the batter in the batter's box is if the pitch was a very slow he did everything to get hit by the pitch. Do not penalize a batter because the pitcher does not know how to execute.

Peace

He wasn't trying to make himself bigger -- the pitch would've hit him had he not turned his back.

It was a fastball, but it wasn't so fast the batter couldn't have made an attempt to get out of the way. He chose to turn and possibly saved his elbow from being hit.

Again, I didn't call it. My partner did, so I backed him up. He does varsity games while I'm plugging along in JV games in my second year. I deferred to him.

I believe NCAA modified the universal HBP rule by adding "if the ball is within the lines of the batter's box, the batter doesn't have to avoid being hit."

I normally give the benefit of the doubt to the batter. I generally consider a turn an attempt. Generally.

You do not "bail out the defense" when they erred.

You said

The pitcher throws inside and the pitch gets away, going straight at the batter's torso.

Sounds like the pitch was "WAY" inside. In addition, when a pitch is that far inside as a player you are taught to get "hit" in a place where no bones may be broken etc. In other words turn into the pitch and let it hit you in the buttox, back etc.

If you do not allow the batter first on the play you describe you will have trouble all game long.

Bottom Line: When F1 errs ie; throws a pitch way inside and it got away from him do not "bail" him out.

Now as another poster mentioned if it's a slow curve that breaks late etc. and it's obvious the player had plenty of time to avoid is one thing, but when a pitch is way inside etc. Give benefit of doubt to the hitter.

Pete Booth

Well if it was a fastball, I am giving them first. I think that is the common sense thing to do and it is hard for a coach to argue the fact his pitcher threw the ball so far inside that the batter had no where to go.

Peace

I agree with Jeff and bossman. I generally dont keep them in the box unless its obvious to Granny in the top row that the batter deliberately looked to be hit. This usually happens on slooooooooooow breakers that take an hour to reach the plate, and the batter could take a nap and still avoid the pitch.

On smokin' fastballs where the batter does NOT lean out, etc, he's going to first.

There is a bigger issue here. I am assuming you were the plate umpire. Your partner, no matter how big a dog he is, had no business poaching that call. You should have told him to buzz off (the game was over with the HBP).

If you are going to survive, you need to make your calls and stick with them. Don't let others make them for you (that includes other umpires), and don't make the other umpire's calls for him. You may be a "team," but that ain't "teamwork."

BTW, I agree with the others. Your call was correct. You let your partner step on you and get it wrong. Put this one in your book of knowledge.

My thanks to all of you for your thoughts. I learn more from my mistakes than anything.

Give him first
 

Your partner was wrong and I would never let him give a base if I were PU.

As far as the pitch, if its a fastball that's completely different from a curve.

Also, if the batter in NFHS does not intentionally do something to let the ball hit him, give him first.

Thanks
David

I am assuming you are PU in this, and why our partner is intervening is beyond me.

My rule of thumbs. 1) If a batter leans into a pitch to get hit he stays 2) If he does not move a muscle and gets hit he stays. Any other movement he goes to 1B, unless the pitch was in the strike zone