Friday night Baltimore Orioles game this "almost" was the case. Details unimportant, however Announcers were told by the umpire crew that on a 3rd strike dropped that goes out of bounds (camera well) that the batter could NOT be awarded 1st base because the defense was deprived of the opportunity to make a play on him. Tried to find something on this in ASA book, and spoke to 3 UIC's over the weekend. No one could sight a similar call for Softball. I would currently rule any runner & the batter gets one base.

Defensive mistake to "drop" the 3rd strike; defensive mistake to allow the pitched ball to go into DBT.

Speaking ASA.

All runners are awarded 1 base (8-5C). The batter became a batter-runner before the ball went into DBT, so the BR is also awarded 1st base. Same rule, backed up by 10-1 if necessary.

That would be the same award in baseball, either Fed or OBR.

Don't beleive anouncers on rules, even when they state they are "repeting" an officials word.

Roger Greene