Stolen from eteamz

[WestMichBlue]

In my view, the question should be: "What provided the impetus to propel the ball out of play?"

Was it the pitcher, whose fast ball had enough energy to richocet off a bat and go over the fence?

Was it the bat, swung by the batter's rotational movement, that hit the ball and provided enough energy for the ball to clear the fence?

Only the one who saw this play can answer the question. But when you answer it, then your decision is clear: pitched ball out of play, advance runner. Ball batted out of play, INT and return runners.

Is this, conceptually, any different from the discarded bat issue? Bat hit ball, Interference. Ball hits bat, play on.

WMB

[Dukat]

I sent it in to my assignor and he sent it in and got this response:

>To: Craig Cress
>Subject: fast-pitch rule

>fast pitch question: runners on 1st and 3rd, no outs, no count on batter-
>a pitched ball hits the ground in front of home plate, bounces up and hits >the catcher in the shin guard, bounces off the shin guard, bounces up and >hits the batters bat, while this is happening the runner from 1st
>base is stealing second base. is this a no call, a dead ball and send runner >back to 1st or is it batters interference?

I have spoken with Kevin and our interpretation based on the information
given to us by you is that we play on. We would not penalize the
Offensive team in this case because the ball got to the bat by 2 actions
of the defensive team - the pitcher bouncing the pitch and the catcher
having it go off her shin guard versus blocking and controlling.
So we would have a 'no call' based on the information given to us.


Respectfully,

Craig Cress
Director of Membership Services
ASA/USA Softball
2801 N.E. 50th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
(405) 425-3441

[Andy]

Dukat - you left out the two things that make this play so interesting and are the basis of the differing views.

1. The batter turned to look for the ball, moving her body and bat.
2. The ball ricocheted off the catcher, then hit the batter's bat and went out of play.

The play that Craig's answer was based on is basically a no-brainer.

[argodad]

Originally Posted by WestMichBlue

In my view, the question should be: "What provided the impetus to propel the ball out of play?"

Was it the pitcher, whose fast ball had enough energy to richocet off a bat and go over the fence?

Was it the bat, swung by the batter's rotational movement, that hit the ball and provided enough energy for the ball to clear the fence?

Only the one who saw this play can answer the question. But when you answer it, then your decision is clear: pitched ball out of play, advance runner. Ball batted out of play, INT and return runners.

Is this, conceptually, any different from the discarded bat issue? Bat hit ball, Interference. Ball hits bat, play on.

WMB

That was my thought when Mike first posted -- something like the TD or SAFETY call in football. (I know, I know ... a different sport with a rule set that doesn't apply.) Which team provided the impetus for the ball going into dead ball territory? I still think I could sell either call.