Dropped 3rd Stike Fiasco

[Justme]

Originally Posted by njdevs00cup

I've got 13 year olds by myself. Bases loaded, ONE OUT, 2 - 2 on the batter. I remind both the catcher and batter that a third strike in the dirt is an out and stay here. Batter swings at strike three in the dirt. I signal the batter out and his coach starts yelling at him to run to first base. All the runners start to run. The catcher panics. As I'm yelling he's out, stay here, the catcher proceeds to air mail a throw down to first base. The batter caused the throw, because he didn't go directly to his dugout (right handed batter on the away team), the catcher and runners didn't know what to do. What do you do in this situation?

I yell "BATTER'S OUT" and, since the ball is "live", I watch the action and prepare to make any calls necessary, just like they're paying me to do. Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky and the defense will tag one of the other runners out

[SHBroncos]

I coach 11 & 13 year old teams. I insist that my batters ALWAYS take off for first base on a swinging third strike, regardless of the runners on base. They will be told soon enough they're out and I've never seen a rule that says you shouldn't/can't run to first base. If this causes an unnecessary throw to first base, then so be it. Last weekend we had a kid swing at strike two that was in the dirt and he took off for first base. He thought it was strike three. It didn't draw a throw which was good, because we had a runner on third and he would have certainly taken off for home. We also try to remind our catchers when they don't need to throw to first base on dropped third strike... although they should also know when it applies and when it doesn't, but they are young and it's easy to get confused.

[Rcichon]

Yell, [Angry Dad Voice here] BATTER'S OUT!

If F2 makes a mistake like throwing to 1st, then watch for a tag by F3; maybe R1 wil try to return. One could only hope....

Play on.

[blueump]

Originally Posted by Rcichon

Yell, [Angry Dad Voice here] BATTER'S OUT!

Reminds me of something I did last week. I used the "angry dad voice" on a dropped 3rd strike "batter's out!" and got a typical teen-age reaction - "lighten up old man!"

Ticked me off at first, but now it seems funny!

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by blueump

Reminds me of something I did last week. I used the "angry dad voice" on a dropped 3rd strike "batter's out!" and got a typical teen-age reaction - "lighten up old man!"

Ticked me off at first, but now it seems funny!

Could be worse. First game of the season this year we had no outs and R1 with a drop third strike that went to the backstop. R1 advanced and the BR went to first. In the confusion, neither I nor my partner called the batter out. The pitcher walked to me (I was the BU) with a bit of fear in him and said "I'm not sure but I play travelling ball and shouldn't the batter be out?" I quickly reviewed the situation and realized that he should be out and corrected our error, but I couldn't believe neither of us picked it up.

[njdevs00cup]

Originally Posted by SAump

You might as well be the best coach you can be.
Tell the catcher to "hold the ball up and catch" the lead runner at home for a DP.
Much easier!

I couldn't believe it was happening either, but it is 13 year old rec. ball.