Double swing thru the strike zone

[hawk65]

NFHS, last game of the season, no playoff issues for either team. Score is mounting and team A eventually wins 19-2. Late in the game, batter for A decides to experiment/hot dog/accept a dare or whatever. Batting left-handed, just as the ball leaves the pitcher's hand, she swings while stepping forward in the batter's box like a slap-hitter. She is intentionally swinging very early with no intent to hit the ball at this point. She completes her swing, releases her left hand, continues the swing with her right hand, reaches back with her left hand and grabs the swinging bat behind her with her left hand and continues swinging with her left hand in a second swing thru the strike zone. She hits the pitch on the ground in a slap-hit manner and gets an infield hit. Lots of "oohs" and "aahs" and whooping from teammates and fans. Impressive, but is it legal? If not, what rule do you cite? And if she misses the second time, do you call two strikes -- either by rule or playing along with her hot-dogging?

[VanStanza]

...legal in all respects. In a game management opportunity, couldn't you get her out for "out of the box" or some other phantom reason. I hate when players "hot dog" in any respect.

[Dakota]

Was this done to taunt the opponents?

3-6-13... Unsporting acts shall not be committed, including, but not limited to:
PENTALTY: (Arts. 11 through 16) The umpire shall eject the offender from the game, unless the offense is judged to be of a minor nature. If minor, the umpire may warn the offender and eject if the offense is repeated. (Arts. 11, 13) For coaches who violate, the umpire may restrict the offender to bench/dugout for the remainder of the game, or eject the offender.
a. use of words or actions to incite or try to incite spectators to demonstrate.
b. use of profanity, intimidation and/or deceitful tactics, or baiting or taunting; or
NOTE: The NFHS disapproves of any form of taunting which is intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule or demean others under circumstances including race, religion, gender or national origin.
c. behavior in any manner not in accordance with the spirit of fair play.

[hawk65]

It didn't appear to be a taunting act. I would characterize it more as a frivolous and playful moment by the batter and her teammates during a game that was clearly decided. Winning team going to the playoffs and having some fun, losing team playing out the season and silently acknowledging and perhaps admiring the skills of the winning team.

[BoomerSooner]

Originally Posted by hawk65

It didn't appear to be a taunting act. I would characterize it more as a frivolous and playful moment by the batter and her teammates during a game that was clearly decided. Winning team going to the playoffs and having some fun, losing team playing out the season and silently acknowledging and perhaps admiring the skills of the winning team.

In my book showing off in such a manner is a form of taunting. I've given a nice talking to to a few 1B fielders that upon making a great play on a ball down the line have stood by first base and waited for the runner to get close before stepping on the bag. To me this is a form of taunting equal to saying "you thought you could get one by me, but I'm better than you". Alot of times its the attitude that goes with it, and the context in which it happens. Your case and my example are cases where the spirit of the game is being violated. All it takes is F1 to get offended and decide she is going to put one in the middle of the next batter's back (or the current batter if she had missed) and we've got a nice little battle going on.

For the record though, you can never charge 2 strikes on one pitch.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Showboating/grandstanding maybe, taunting? Give me a break.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by hawk65

It didn't appear to be a taunting act. I would characterize it more as a frivolous and playful moment by the batter and her teammates during a game that was clearly decided. Winning team going to the playoffs and having some fun, losing team playing out the season and silently acknowledging and perhaps admiring the skills of the winning team.

OK, I was just asking... a lot would depend on the atmosphere at the game. Showing off is not necessarily taunting, but I wanted to point out that the high school rules specifically identify taunting as forbidden.

[UMP 64]

The batter should have received a strike call. A batter cannot swing more than one time at one pitch. Dead ball, Strike.

[Al]

Originally Posted by UMP 64

The batter should have received a strike call. A batter cannot swing more than one time at one pitch. Dead ball, Strike.

I agree and think an umpire should immediately give a loud and clear strike call upon the first swing to any batter who does that. And if she still swings a second time and makes contact as she did in the OP following that loud and clear strike call everyone should clearly understand why the dead ball was called on contact. .. Al

[UMP 64]

Good call AL.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by hawk65

She is intentionally swinging very early with no intent to hit the ball at this point.

NFHS Rule Book
Rule 2: Definitions
Section 56: Strike, Strikeout, Strike Zone
Art. 1... Strike. A strike is any pitch that ...is swung at by the batter and missed.

Rule 7: Batting
Section 2: Strikes, Balls And Hits
Art. 1... A strike is charged to the batter when:
b. a pitched ball is struck at and missed.

Originally Posted by Al

I ... think an umpire should immediately give a loud and clear strike call upon the first swing to any batter who does that.

[mcrowder]

Bringing the bat through the strikezone with no intent to hit the ball is not a strike. Nothing illegal about this sitch, and it's not our jobs to invent rulings to fit our personal idea of what should and should not be allowed.

[MNBlue]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

Bringing the bat through the strikezone with no intent to hit the ball is not a strike. Nothing illegal about this sitch, and it's not our jobs to invent rulings to fit our personal idea of what should and should not be allowed.

I agree with you Mike, BUT, what about this act. R1 on first, stealing with the pitch. Batter swings on the release of the pitch, absolutely no intent to hit the ball, she's just trying to protect the runner. I have seen this happen often and it is always called a strike. I think trying to sell a no strike to the DC would be nearly impossible.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

I agree with you Mike, BUT, what about this act. R1 on first, stealing with the pitch. Batter swings on the release of the pitch, absolutely no intent to hit the ball, she's just trying to protect the runner. I have seen this happen often and it is always called a strike. I think trying to sell a no strike to the DC would be nearly impossible.

Very different sitch. If the swinging of the bat is somewhat near the timing of the ball coming through, you're probably just ruling a strike.

If you truly feel that there was no attempt to hit the ball at all, and only an attempt to interfere .... don't you think that is not a strike, but rather interference?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Please do not tell me that you would rule INT just because a batter moved the bat without trying to hit the ball.

I guess the next part of this thread will move to the "waving" of the bat at the plate to protect a stealing runner.