When has a batter given himself up?
 

Home team at bat, bottom of 6, 2 outs and R3. Full count on B1. Pitch comes in batter swings and misses, catcher drops ball. B1 starts walking toward his 3rd base side dugout and gets 4 to 5 steps out of box. 3rd base coach is going crazy telling him to run to 1st. B1 then starts to 1st. I call B1 out and say the game is over because B1 had not attempted to run. Obviously coach is not happy and said I called the play to quick. When is the batter considered out in this situation when not attempting to run?
Oh yeah all of this in a 9u game being umpired by just yours truly. Fun times.

OBR: BR out when he leaves the dirt circle/vicinity of the plate.

FED: BR out when he enters the dugout.

9U: don't lose any sleep on this call.

What does the rule book tell you when you looked it up?

If it's Little League, it's when he enters the dugout (or DBT).

Ditch "vicinity" - it's when he leaves the dirt circle. Saying "vicinity" validates the call in question and allows a discression not intended by rule.

GROUPthink is correct in LL rules.

In many 9-under games, the field is ALL dirt, which is probably why the "vicinity" clause is in the rule.

What if it's an all dirt infield? Then it's umpire judgement as to where the "vicinity" of the circle would be.

Ex: legion ball using OBR rules.

I added the word 'vicinity', precisely to address the situation you mention.

For those who dislike it, substitute "10-13 feet from the plate."

You had to beat me to it by a second:cool:

The reason Little League has cited for *not* moving to this is the inconsistency of the size of circles at fields used all over the country.

I had a HS player take one step towards his dugout and the other coach was all over us saying "He gave himself up!" Wrong rule set, wrong application. The coach was 0-for-2.

"Vicinity" is not in the rule.

Rule 6.09(b) Comment: A batter who does not realize his situation on a third strike not caught, and who is not in the process of running to first base, shall be declared out once he leaves the dirt circle surrounding home plate.

If there's no grass then you can envision where it would be, but if you do so be consistent. Might even be worth scribing one at the start of the game.

No way, Jose! :D

We don't have enough to do, now we line the field too?

Heck, I erase lines before the game starts. Dang white chalk from the catchers box always seems to get in my eyes and all over my clean shoes;)

30 seconds scribibg a line versus a potential argument (or more) later on ("You let the other guy get farther from the plate and didn't call him out")? Priceless.

I've had games where they didn't even chalk the foul lines!

Let someone come out and argue a fair/foul call, go head, I dare you!:D