Batting Out of Order

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by greymule

I *think* that some versions of softball allow two outs on this play.

ASA, Fed, and NCAA all differ in how they deal with BOO.

Example:

B1 singles. B3 hits into a double play. Defense appeals that B2 should have batted.

ASA: Double play counts, B2 out for failing to bat in proper order. Three outs, B4 leads off next inning. (Two batters, three outs.)

Fed [unless they have changed their rule since 2002]: Runner (B1) out on the force at 2B. B2 out for failing to bat in the proper order. Two outs. B3 bats again.

NCAA follows OBR: B2 out, B1 returns to 1B, B3 bats again.

There are other differences: bases loaded, B5 bats instead of B4. Ball 4 to B5 is in the dirt and bounces off F2's shinguard and into DBT. Defense appeals that B4 should have batted. In ASA, B4 is out, runners return TOP, and B5 bats again. In NCAA, B4 is out, but the runners are still awarded a base on the ball entering DBT. B5 now bats. (I don't know how Fed would rule on that play.)

I doubt that many of you do YSISF, but they have their own unique rule set for BOO. Very severe penalties for violations.

But where is the example that DG stated, where it was the first batter of the inning who grounded out that batted out of order? I can't imagine more than one out awarded in any code. Please someone give an example of when there can be two outs called for the wrong leadoff batter.

[greymule]

But where is the example that DG stated, where it was the first batter of the inning who grounded out that batted out of order? I can't imagine more than one out awarded in any code. Please someone give an example of when there can be two outs called for the wrong leadoff batter.

In the Legion play that DG mentioned, the ruling was incorrect. The coach, knowing the rule and aware of the BOO, knew that he should wait and see what happens and then decide whether or not to appeal. (Such a situation occurred in a Mets-Pirates game decades ago, where the Mets let the Pirates bat out of order twice, but appealed the third time around when the batter got a double.) In DG's play, we never learned which number batter failed to bat in the proper order, but the ruling should have been proper batter out, play doesn't count, next batter is the one who follows the one who failed to bat when he should have.

But the ruling would have been correct in ASA: B5 is supposed to lead off the inning, but B6 bats and makes an out. The defense appeals. The out by B6 stands, and B5 is also out. One batter, two outs, B7 now bats. (Note: In ASA, it is always to the defense's advantage to appeal BOO. There can never be any negative consequences, never a decision to be made about which option is better. Note also that if B7 had batted when B5 was supposed to, and B7 made an out, then B7's out would stand, B5 would be out, and B6 would then bat, followed by B7. So if B6 gets on base, B7 could go 0 for 2 in an inning that saw only 3 batters.)

This cannot happen in Fed or NCAA softball, nor can it happen in OBR. All three codes would call the above play the same: B5 out, B6's out doesn't count, B6 bats again. I'm not sure about Fed baseball. I thought it followed Fed softball, but I'm not sure and haven't done Fed baseball or softball since 2002.