runner and batted ball

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by Cecil4

Do you know of any distinction of interpretation for slow pitch vs. fast pitch for these rules:

USA Softball 8-7 Runner is out
K. When a runner is struck with a fair untouched batted ball while not in contact with a base and before it passes an infielder, excluding the pitcher, or if it passes an infielder and another fielder has an opportunity to make an out.
L. When a runner intentionally contacts a fair ball that an infielder missed.

USA Softball 8-8 Runner is not out
M. When hit by a batted ball while in contact with a base, unless the runner intentionally interferes with the ball or a fielder making a play.

Well, we have the "intentionally interferes" in both rules and would/should be interpretated similarly in either fast or slow pitch.

About the only distinction I can come up with is that in the slow pitch game it would be very unlikely that an infielder would be playing inside the base line. That would eliminate the situation of a batted ball that first passes an infielder and then hits a runner who did not intentionally interfere.

But I can be convinced if there's another distinction.

I viewed a couple of oddities where runners were hit with batted balls.

Slow pitch R1 on 3B. Bases were very "rubbery" and anchored. Batter hit a line drive that hit the base and popped up into the air. The runner eluded the batted ball initially and lost sight of it. She took about 3 steps away from the base and into fair territory. The ball, after ricocheting off the base, then hit the runner in the back. Dead ball, runner out, award batter 1B.

Fast pitch R1 on 2B. Left-handed pull hitter at bat, so the coach decided to play F6 to the first-base side of 2B. F5 was playing in normal position, even with the bag. Runner took her lead on the release of the pitch and the batter hit a line drive to the left of 2B. The runner, who was in the path of the ball, ducked but the ball nicked the top of her helmet and continued into the outfield. Live ball, play on. Coach(es) insisted that ANY time a runner is hit with a batted ball, the runner is out. I believe there are more instances when a runner is hit with a batted ball that they are not out than when the runner would be out.