On-deck Batter Hit by Thrown Ball

[bbsbvb83]

Here is my take on the situation in the OP...

The reason, or at least one reason, the ball contacted the on-deck batter is because of the poor throw from F8. In my opinion, just because the on-deck batter is hit with F8's poor throw does not, in and of itself, constitute interference on the part of the on-deck batter as it does not automatically meet the definition of interference. NFHS rule 2-32-1 defines interference as "an act by a member of the team at bat who illegally impedes, hinders, or confuses any fielder..." Simply being hit by a poorly thrown ball does not necessarily impede, hinder, or confuse any fielder. In fact, depending on how the ball deflects off the on-deck batter, the defense could potentially benefit as a result. As such, I do not think we can automatically rule interference has occurred in the OP, but it is certainly a possibility. Unfortunately, the NFHS has not seen fit to provide any specific guidance regarding rule 7-5-4 or the corresponding penalties in the case book.

Some posters seem to believe that interference and an immediate dead ball should be ruled any time the on-deck batter is hit by a thrown ball. For those posters, please consider the following play which happened during an error-filled junior high game with light rain.

Runner at third base only with one out. Ground ball to F5. Runner begins to advance to home plate as F5 fields the ground ball. F5 makes a sidearm throw, but the slick ball slips from her hand and is thrown on a line from F5 to the on-deck circle where the on-deck batter is struck in the helmet. The on-deck circle is half way between home plate and third base and twenty feet from the third base line. At the time the ball hit the on-deck batter, the runner was well over half way home.

Would you rule interference in the above situation also?

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by bbsbvb83

Some posters seem to believe that interference and an immediate dead ball should be ruled any time the on-deck batter is hit by a thrown ball. For those posters, please consider the following play which happened during an error-filled junior high game with light rain.

Runner at third base only with one out. Ground ball to F5. Runner begins to advance to home plate as F5 fields the ground ball. F5 makes a sidearm throw, but the slick ball slips from her hand and is thrown on a line from F5 to the on-deck circle where the on-deck batter is struck in the helmet. The on-deck circle is half way between home plate and third base and twenty feet from the third base line. At the time the ball hit the on-deck batter, the runner was well over half way home.

Would you rule interference in the above situation also?

"Those posters" (Duke & Crabby) are so far silent on your recent scenario. I cannot speak for them.

I personally would not call INT in that situation. The rule states that the on deck batter may not interfere (USA Softball) & the on deck batter shall not commit interference (NFHS). The penalties and their severity are a little different, also. Hard to "reward" the defense for such poor execution.

Unless USA and/or NFHS provides a clear interpretation on this subject, my judgment will not render an INT call in either the OP or this latest scenario. It could invite open season on the on deck batter(s).

[Tru_in_Blu]

If the ball becomes blocked due to offensive equipment not involved in the game.

Effect:
a. The ball is dead.
b. Runners are returned to the last base touched at the time of the blocked
ball.
c. If the blocked ball prevented the defense from making an out, the runner
being played on is out.

If a thrown ball enters the on deck circle (which the on deck batter has vacated) and contacts one or two bats that the on deck batter left there, do we have a blocked ball?

What if a thrown ball hits the batter's discarded bat?

[Crabby_Bob]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

[blocked ball rules]

If a thrown ball enters the on deck circle (which the on deck batter has vacated) and contacts one or two bats that the on deck batter left there, do we have a blocked ball?

What if a thrown ball hits the batter's discarded bat?

This illustrates how the same object is treated differently based upon circumstances. How about a batted ball that strikes a bat in fair or foul territory?

NFHS's rule for an on-deck batter mirrors the blocked ball rule. In both of OP's scenarios, how would you rule if the person hit on the field was the in-the-hole batter, a bench player not currently in the game, the batgirl, or a ball-shagger?

In OP's second scenario, the defense is at fault. In the first, the offense is at fault. Similar actions, same object, different subtleties. Applying a black and white rule to gray areas will create perceived injustices.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Play: With R1 on 3B and R2 on 2B and 1 out, B4 hits a fly ball to F7. Both runners tag up and attempt to advance after the catch. The on-deck batter leaves her bat in the on-deck circle on the first base side of the field to direct the runner(s) coming home. F1 has taken a position behind the on-deck batter, third base line extended, to back up the throw.

In a) F7 overthrows F2 in an attempt to retire R1 and the thrown ball deflects off the on-deck batter's helmet and goes out of play; in b) the overthrow hits the on-deck batter and deflects away up the first base line and as a result, R2 now attempts to score but the deflection has eluded F1 backing up the play; in c) the overthrow ricochets off the fence and hits the on-deck batter's discarded bat in the on-deck circle.

Ruling: a) This is a blocked ball. The ball all is dead, each runner is awarded 1 base at the time the ball became blocked, Rule 1 Definitions. and Rule 8-5G Exception 1
b) Same as a
c) Ball is blocked due to offensive equipment not in the game; ball is dead, runners return to last base touched at time of block and if the block prevented the defense from making an out the runner being played on is out. Rule 8, Section 5G Exception 3 and Effect.

[Cecil4]

As far as I know, it is a blocked ball, as defined in 2-2-3. Rule 5-1-1g applies to it being dead and runners as Ted posted:
"Effect:
a. The ball is dead.
b. Runners are returned to the last base touched at the time of the blocked
ball.
c. If the blocked ball prevented the defense from making an out, the runner
being played on is out."

BTW, fault is not the issue.