Strange Happenings
 

I have been officiating long enough to understand that there is always something you haven't seen and always something else to learn. Having said that, on Tues I had a Varsity game where the following took place:

Top of 5 with 1 out , no runners, count 1-2.
Next pitch is a waste pitch in the dirt and the batter bites and swings and misses. The ball bounces up in the batter box and is struck by the batters bat on the follow thru. The ball then ends up at the backstop with the batter-runner now headed to first.

Is there a call here or not? I am going to keep checking my books and case plays. I am interested in what others say here, then I will state what I called.

Did the ball bounce off the catcher or his glove first?

There's a rule specifically for this - I don't have the books right here though, but if memory serves it's in or near the section dealing with a bat hitting a ball a second time (maybe not the best place for it, but I believe that's where it is). I believe all you have here is a dead ball strike - I know that's true in several codes.

No.

The ball was only hit once, on the follow-thru.

Since the ball didn't hit anything before the batter made contact with it I'll say Foul.

NFHS the batter is out 7-5-c, the ball is dead no runners may advance.

NCAA the the ball is dead immediately no runners may advance 6-2-d.

OBR the the ball is dead immediately no runners may advance 6.06(c) comment.

Not sure if your NFHS reference is valid however, I also had the out and killed the play but treated it as interference by the batter. Still not sure if that is totally correct, but still checking.

I haven't researched the other codes yet, will do after my game tonight.

"3rdGennation" It can't be a foul ball because it doesn't meet the criteria of a foul ball. The batter missed the ball on his attemped to hit it, immediatly afterwhich he becomes a batter-runner. That was my initial thought however, I just killed the play and didn't utter those words.

See 7.3.5F. It doesn't matter whether the ball hit the catcher's glove first or not.

Thanks Bob. First time I ever saw it happen at a game I was doing.

Why would I bother to research and post the rule numbers, if they were not valid? As Bob wrote 7.3.5. Situation F is the case ruling for NFHS. NFHS does not have back swing interference in the same way as OBR and NCAA.

In Fed the batter is responsible for his follow-thru. If it interferes with a catcher's ability in this case to field the ball (or make a throw to a base in the case of a steal), then the batter is out.

Another rule that FED needs to change. Sometimes the situation calls for an automatic do-over (except for the pitch). An out is too harsh.

That is totally up to you but, the 2013 NFHS Rule Book and Case Book I have in my possession does not contain "7-5-c". If yours does then your right, it is valid.

He means 7-3-5c.

Agreed.

At least in this case the result would be the same since it was strike 3.