Pitched Ball hits dirt then batter: Hit by Pitch?

[ozzy6900]

RickWin wrote:

Simple (?) question from a Youth League (9-10) manager -- If a pitched ball first hits the dirt before striking the batter, is (1) the batter "Hit by Pitch" and awarded first base or (2) the pitch a "Ball" and "live" in-play (assuming the batter didn't swing) or (3) something else? We had this happen to us in consecutive games with different calls by the umpire.

RickWin and others. Try to remember it this way: If you are playing men's Slo-Pitch softball, the ball is dead. If you are playing baseball or fast pitch softball, the ball is alive. It's that simple!