hit by pitch on a bunt

[Little Jimmy]

This happened today. I'm plate. Pitcher goes into motion and releases ball. Batter runs up in box to bunt. Body is hanging over plate but both feet are still in box. Batter is hit in the leg while body motion is still moving forward and toward 1st. I call hit batter and award 1st base.

Coach is unhappy saying she ran into the pitch. Kind of true but only because she was moving forward to begin with. In my judgement she withdrew the bat, tried to stop her momentum when she saw the pitch was inside, and was hit squarely in the body area (leg) that was in the middle of the batters box.

It's a HTBT but I felt good about the call, although I could see a DB ball being called. What do you think?

[Dakota]

From your description, I have no problem with awarding first. Batter tried to avoid. That's all she has to do.

[whiskers_ump]

Definately a HBP. Sounds like a good call.

[whiskers_ump]

However, after rereading your post, I do have a question

Batter is hit in the leg while body motion is still moving forward and toward 1st.

Could this motion have put her leg in the strike zone?
Was or would have the ball been in the strike zone area?

Just curious.

[rhsc]

Originally posted by whiskers_ump
However, after rereading your post, I do have a question

Batter is hit in the leg while body motion is still moving forward and toward 1st.

Could this motion have put her leg in the strike zone?
Was or would have the ball been in the strike zone area?

Just curious.

Either way, still HBP and award 1st.

[whiskers_ump]

Not necessarily. If a portion of the batters body should
be over the plate in the strike zone and she is hit with
the pitch, it is a DB strike.

[rhsc]

Originally posted by whiskers_ump
Not necessarily. If a portion of the batters body should
be over the plate in the strike zone and she is hit with
the pitch, it is a DB strike.

OK, not knowing what part of the leg that was hit, I agree with you, but in most cases like this wouldnt you say that would be a generous strike zone.

[Little Jimmy]

Ball hit calf area of the leg that was still positioned in the batters box. It was not anywhere in the strike zone. I believe what made this a tougher call (for the defensive coach anyway) was that after she was hit she still stumbled a couple of steps forward so that when I was making the call she was standing a couple of feet in front of the plate.

[debeau]

Well now we have all the info certainly a HBP especially in the calf .