Fed Illegal Pitch Option

[HugoTafurst]

This very rule came up for at our HS Association meeting tonight.

It turned out that no one argued that there was no coach option.
The new twist (to me) was that many argued (reasonably) that since the ball became dead "at the end of playing action", a runner going from 1st to 3rd on a passed ball, should be allowed to stay there - and a ball awarded to the batter!
Conversely, if she was thrown out at 3rd, the out would stand and a ball would be awarded to the batter.

The thinking here is that similar to obstruction, she is awarded 2nd but whatever happens after that, happens..... And at the end of that playing action the ball is dead.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm Sounds similar to another sport - just can't remember the name

After much discussion, our rules interpreter was tasked with getting the FHSAA interpretation. Hopefully it will match NFHS.

[Tex]

Sometimes an illegal pitch is delivered to the batter. If the batter hits the ball (fair or foul), the play continues until the "end of playing action". Now the coach of the team at bat has the option of the resulting play or the penalty. The ball must be hit.

If the batter swings and misses the ball, the play is dead, all runners return, and the award is made.

If there is not any delivery of the ball to the batter, the play is dead and the award is made.

The runner stealing has no bearing on the play.

[Andy]

Tex - is this your interpretation or is it official in any way, either an NFHS State Rules interpreter or directly from NFHS? If so....is there documentation anywhere?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Tex

Sometimes an illegal pitch is delivered to the batter. If the batter hits the ball (fair or foul), the play continues until the "end of playing action". Now the coach of the team at bat has the option of the resulting play or the penalty. The ball must be hit.

If the batter swings and misses the ball, the play is dead, all runners return, and the award is made.

If there is not any delivery of the ball to the batter, the play is dead and the award is made.

The runner stealing has no bearing on the play.

I count 4 inaccuracies in this post... anyone have more?

[youngump]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

I count 4 inaccuracies in this post... anyone have more?

I've only got three. And that's with counting the ball must be hit and if they hit it as two separate ones. If you don't want to spoil the surprise can you PM me.
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Crazy_N_Wet live

[MD Longhorn]

Sometimes an illegal pitch is delivered to the batter.

True.

If the batter hits the ball (fair or foul), the play continues until the "end of playing action".

False, it continues regardless of whether the batter hits the ball, in some cases.

Now the coach of the team at bat has the option of the resulting play or the penalty.

False.

The ball must be hit.

False.

If the batter swings and misses the ball, the play is dead, all runners return, and the award is made.

False, in one case.

If there is not any delivery of the ball to the batter, the play is dead and the award is made.

True!

The runner stealing has no bearing on the play.

I gave him this one. Technically not really true, but also not blatantly false. Just unimportant.

[youngump]

My count didn't include "now the coach has the option..." Once the ball is dead after a hit, then yes the coach has the option.
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MegaSquirtBB

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by youngump

My count didn't include "now the coach has the option..." Once the ball is dead after a hit, then yes the coach has the option.

You're probably right, as my perception of what was false there was the preceding clause - when the ball is hit... I guess I double-dinged him for the same error!