Drop third strike deflection

[jdmara]

In Iowa we play summer HS baseball (as opposed to spring as I believe all other states do) so some of us are not ready for the season to start (for goodness sakes I'm still finishing up basketball leagues). I haven't dusted off my rule book for the season. However, we just started "pre-season" leagues two weeks ago.

Here is the situation:

R2 while B2 has 2-2 count. B2 swings on a breaking ball and misses. F2 deflects into the dirt towards . B2 takes off for first after his swing catches nothing but sunshine and the warm breeze. B2 (a right-handed batter) crosses the plate and is a few steps down the first base line when he accidentally contacts the deflected ball. The ball deflects off B2 towards the first base dugout (which consequently was right in the path of F2). 2-3 putout of B2.

We ruled that since this was not a batted ball and the deflection was unintentional, play on. I think that's the correct ruling but I wanted to run it past the forum.

-Josh

[UmpJM]

Josh,

That is correct.

See FED 8.4.1 I

JM

[jdmara]

Thanks...I'm still working the basketball bugs out of my head

-Josh

[Emperor Ump]

Good call.