Strike or hit by pitch?

[mcrowder]

No, this could not have been right.

If the umpire saw that it hit the batter first, and she did not attempt to hit it (holding the bat back behind you is NOT an attempt to hit!), it's a HBP.

If the umpire saw that it hit the BAT first, and then hit the batter while still in the box, it's a foul ball.

It's only a dead-ball strike if it either was across the strikezone, or struck at (and not hit by the bat) and hit the batter.