ASA - clarification
 

On a bunt attempt, does the batter have to pull the bat back in order for a strike to not be called? That is, if the batter leaves the bat in the strike zone, he/she is not considered to have taken the pitch and it is considered a bunt attempt.

Does this rule differ in PONY? I don't have a rule book handy as I'm at work (and should be working....) but I'm curious.

Thanks!

Their rule is written very similarly to the ASA rule, but I can ask one of their higher-up UICs when I see him tomorrow (he calls in our association).

Thanks Dave, but I was more curious about the ASA ruling...I would like to know the PONY ruling too. I ask because I thought in one association, (and I work for 3), the batter does not have to pull the bat back. But in the other, if she doesn't, you call a strike on the bunt attempt. Though it's been a long winter and I may be very rusty.

The reason why I'm asking is because I am reading "myths" on a website and it struck me as something I wanted clarified.

ASA does not require the batter to pull the bat back. I'll ask Mike when I see him tomorrow.

Hence why I asked...when I saw this on a website, especially the part where it said the rule changed in 2009, I thought, "oh no! I've been calling it where the batter is NOT required to bring the bat back....any movement forward is considered an attempt, but not when he/she holds the bat there."

And then I read this, and say....have I been wrong for 2 years now???!!

ASA - no strike unless batter moves the bat toward the ball. Putting the bat out across the plate and simply leaving it there is not a strike. And, assuming of course, pitch is not in the strike zone.

NFHS - must pull the bat back or it will be considered an attempt.

No, it is not accurate with ASA.

Personally, I consider the thought that not requiring the batter to attempt to hit the ball out of strike zone for it to be a strike ludicrous.

Spoke with Mike H. of PONY. They differ from ASA in that the batter does have to pull the bat back in PONY for it not to be a strike.

So, in PONY, if the bat is in the strike zone, it is a strike.:eek: Sounds good to me.

That's what he told me today, so... Yep!

I must be the only one who thinks this is a "lazy man's" rule. IMO, a ball out of the strike zone is never a strike if the batter did not attempt to hit the ball or the ball did not hit the bat. IMO, there is no viable reason for this rule to exist in an environment using professional umpires.

I'm with you Mike. I don't see why a strike would be called if the batter never offered at the pitch. In fact, it goes against the definition of a check swing and offering at a pitch.

And Dave and Mike and others, I thank you yet again for clearing up my confusion. This has been the way I have been calling it - ASA no strike, PONY strike...

Someone will want to mention to the Dallas Metroplex Softball Association that there is a mistake on their website under the forty myths. They have incorrectly listed this as an ASA rule, when it is, in fact, an NFHS and PONY rule.

DMSUA.COM

Myth number 11.

This is not a PONY rule or a correct interpretation according to the PONY rule book.
From the Points of Emphasis section in the PONY 2010 Girls Softball Rules and Regulations book (Pg.V):
#8 CHECK SWING/BUNT STRIKE
"On a bunt attempt where the batter puts the bat across the plate, unless the batter moves the bat towards the ball, a strike would not be called if the ball is out of the strike zone."

The person I spoke with made the comment, "if the rule changes in high school, I can guarantee you it will change the very next year in PONY." I suspect they want to have some amount of consistency for the girls who play NFHS.