Batter awarded 1st base?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by marvin

In high school when the batter hits a foul ball the rule simply does not apply. The last action in the game was not a pitch, it was a batted ball. The NFHS rule states after each pitch. If the foul ball is a continuation of the pitch (the rule still applies) and you apply that strictly then a foul ball retrieved by any other player would have to be returned to the catcher to be returned to the pitcher.

Can't you hear the coach, "I don't care if the right fielder retrieved that foul ball - the rule book says that after each pitch the CATCHER shall return the ball to the pitcher."

Real simple answer, "Coach the fielder was not returning a pitched ball to the pitcher, she was returning a batted ball." This is the same answer I would give in the situation where the catcher dives for a foul ball and then tosses it to another player.

NFHS rule 2-2-2 defines a batted ball, I am saying it is no longer a pitch once it becomes a batted ball.

Time to have fun. If the catcher retrieves the ball that was fouled off, isn't that after the pitch?

What about a wild pitch the catcher chases down the fence along the 1B side of the infield and flips to F3 who was also chasing the ball because she is between the catcher and pitcher? Is that a pitched ball after a pitch?

Obviously, I'm just jerking this around. This rule was meant to keep the game moving and unless there is some obvious delay, I'm not awarding the batter anything on these types of events.