HBP after BALL HITS GROUND
 

Hello-

My team played in a 12u tourney game last nite.

Quick question...girls fast pitch:

What is the ruling if a batter is hit by a pitch with a ball that hits the ground before home plate and then hits the batter. Ball or is 1st base awarded.

Thanks...
Rich Ryczek

Speaking ASA and USSSA as long as the Batter made an "effort" to avoid being hit by the pitch (in the air or ground)the batter is awarded 1st base and runners move 1 base only if forced.

HBP after BALL HITS GROUND
 

OK, so its really an UMPs descretion whether the batter attempted to move.

Thanks
Rich Ryczek

The answers given are correct for fast pitch. Assumming you are talking fast pitch, slow pitch the ball is dead when it hits the ground.

And yes a HPB is umpires judgement if the batter attempted to avoid being contacted with the ball.

HBP after BALL HITS GROUND
 

Thank you for the clarification. Take care...

If a ball hit the ground, I'm giving the benefit of the doubt to the batter. The batter has every right to expect the ball to be pitched in or around the strike zone and not hit the dirt. If that ball hit the dirt then hit the batter, chances are 99 times out of 100 that the batter's going to be awarded 1B when I'm working the dish. They have no idea where that ball is gonna go once it hits the ground, so they're gonna get 1B.

I would go even further than that. The batter has no chance to know how to avoid a bounding ball; in fact, the safest chance is to stay still. If they stand still (freeze), or move in any direction, they sufficiently attempted to avoid, in my judgment. The only exceptions might be a dribbler that any fool could move away from, or a non-slapper moving forward (toward the pitcher) to be hit.

so what was called?

I UMP as well. Just wanted to be sure of the call. And yes, I have awarded
1st base while at the dish as well. It was the other teams coaches that didn't
want the HBP call, both myself and the UMPs tried to explain ourselves. But with the rule not written in the ASA book (that I could find), we didn't have the black and white proof.

and SRW.....GREAT quote. So true !!!

3afan...
My girls were awarded 1st base on 3 occasions.

Rule 7-5-A - (Fast Pitch) Effect...The ball is live
Rule 8-1-F - (Fast Pitch) Deals with the HBP

Thanks mdntranger !!!

Still not cut and dry, but between the 2 rules you can see how the
batter would be awarded 1st.

Thanks to all !!!

The reason you can't find a specific rule is there is none, therefore the same as any other pitch. If there was an exception, then there would be a rule taht said dead ball or whatever.

I would also add that there must be no attempt from the batter to hit the pitch.