Batter swinging at a pitch late
 

I have noticed that there is an increasing trend of batters being coached at swinging very late at a pitch to protect a runner stealing a base at the high school level. Happened twice last night. My timing is pretty good for calling pitches, that is slow. The first time it happened I correctly called the pitch a strike. The second time it happened the swing was so late I had already called the pitch a ball then the batter swing his bat. There was no interference with the throw to second because of the late swing.

My solution to this was to call time after the play and ask my partner for help, which I knew he may not have any because he was turning to call the play at second. After giving him so very subtle hints, that I wanted him to say he swing, I was able to sell my reversal of a called ball without anyone objecting to it.

My question is this.

1) How late can a batter swing at a pitch without it being called a strike.
2) Did I handle this the best way under the circumstances.

If the bat swing was not a bonafide attempt to hit the ball ... it's not a strike.
That said, if it was not an attempt, it should be much more likely to be an attempt to interfere.

I'm not sure I would have changed this to a strike. Rather, I'd be telling coach to cut it out - that swinging the bat after the catcher is already starting to throw COULD be interference.

Actually, if it appears to be an attempt to protect a runner, I would start calling "on the swing - STRIKE!". Now wait for the coach to complain and then tell him, "You can stop this now or the next time it will be interference." Let the coach make the choice but I'm either getting a strike or an out.

But they won't complain... this is taught, and the strike is expected.

Calling INT will put a quick end to this bush-league tactic. If the pitch is already in F2's mitt when the swing starts, what else could it be?

I called this a "ball" once in a college game years ago, because the batter didn't swing until the catcher came up throwing the ball. That was when I learned to slow my timing down. They want that called a strike - or interference if he interferes.

JJ

Exactly!

He is no longer swinging at a pitch when the pitch has passed him. He's intentionally interfering with the catcher's throw. Easy call. Interference.

Agreed, assuming he actually interferes, and doesn't just attempt to.

Correct. I'm giving every benefit of the doubt to the catcher here though. If it's a little close, I'm calling it.