Should a batter be awarded first if she is hit by a pitch that was deflected off of the front of home base?

Yes

As long as in the umpire's judgement she made an attempt to avoid being hit.

And in my judgement, a batter hit by a ball that bounces,
will always get the benefit of doubt. Hard to judge where
a ball will go when it hits the ground first.

Hit by Pitch
 

HBP, award the base. On a deflection like you described, there is no telling where the ball is going. If the batter blinked...that's enough of an avoidence effort for me.

Michael

Not if she swung at it. ;)

"But, ump, the ball hit the ground! She shouldn't get to go to first!"

/sarcasm off

To follow in the previous sarcastic vein:

"Come on Blue! How can she swing at a ball that hit the ground? Its a dead ball!"

But, ump, the ball hit the ground! She shouldn't get to go to first!"


The ground is already at first, batter take your base!

(actually said to a "friendly" coach, he then understood!)