BR contacting ball in Batters box

That is the question that came up. Is the batter still protected if they leave one batter's box and contact the ball in the other batter's box.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by softball_junky

That is the question that came up. Is the batter still protected if they leave one batter's box and contact the ball in the other batter's box.

No, they are not. If a coach tries to argue that, tell them the batter's not allowed to switch once the pitcher begins their delivery. So either you have an out for switching batter's boxes, an out for INT on a fair batted ball, or a foul ball (if the ball was first touched in foul territory).

Your choice, coach (assuming you already ruled foul/fair).

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by softball_junky

That is the question that came up. Is the batter still protected if they leave one batter's box and contact the ball in the other batter's box.

There's a point clearly being missed. They are not protected if they contact the ball in their original batter's box; the foul ball call is only of the ball contacts them.

In your OP, the batter-runner "steps on the ball". That is interference as long as the ball was in fair territory. Neither batter's box has protection in this play.

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

There's a point clearly being missed. They are not protected if they contact the ball in their original batter's box; the foul ball call is only of the ball contacts them.

In your OP, the batter-runner "steps on the ball". That is interference as long as the ball was in fair territory. Neither batter's box has protection in this play.

Good point, I think you are right on. The batter's box had no bearing in this.