Flinging the Bat rules

[emaxos]

Runners on 1 and 3. Batter hits a double to left field. Both runners score. Ball is returned to pitcher in circle. Next batter takes position in the box.
Prior to the pitch, the home plate umpire calls time, announces the BR on 2nd out for flinging the bat. He allows the runs to stand.
This happened in co-workers daughter's Dixie Girls Angels (9-10). I'm told the umpire warned both coaches about tossing the bat in pregame meeting.
Provided the pre-game "warning" was valid, I would have thought the umpire should have called "dead ball", called the batter out and the runners returned to their bases.
How can the runs stand??

[Dakota]

I have never done Dixie ball, and have not studied their rules. However, their rules are online at Dixie Softball Rules.

Here is the rule concerning slinging the bat:
7:06 — If a batter slings her bat she will be declared “Out.”
NOTE: No warning is to be given.
NOTE: This is a “dead ball” call.
NOTE: Dixie Softball, Inc., recommends that umpires warn all players about slinging bats and the consequence of slinging a bat before each game starts.

Sounds like your umpire got it right except for the dead ball part - it would seem the runs should not have scored; runners returned to their bases, persumably at the TOP, or perhaps at the TOS ("time of sling" ).

[Skahtboi]

Correct as usual Dakota!

According to Dixie Rules, there is no warning to be given, though most state associations do in fact require umpires to "remind" or "warn" both coaches at the plate conference.

Allowing the runs to score in this situation was an incorrect move on the part of the umpire. The ball should have been dead immediately upon the commission of the rule infraction.

Scott

[whiskers_ump]

Scott,

More like to remind, before you fire that first shot
because I believe most associations are like
NFHS, warnings are not given during the Pre-game conference.
You still have to wait for the first infraction in cases that require
a warning prior to restriction.

Believe I am reading this correctly.

glen

[AlabamaBlue]

Dakota is correct, immediate dead ball, batter out, runners return.

[Edited by AlabamaBlue on Apr 29th, 2003 at 08:25 AM]

[CecilOne]

Originally posted by whiskers_ump
Scott,

More like to remind, before you fire that first shot
because I believe most associations are like
NFHS, warnings are not given during the Pre-game conference.
You still have to wait for the first infraction in cases that require a warning prior to restriction.

Believe I am reading this correctly.

glen

Just like we were trying so say in the "make up rules" topic about jewelry. In youth/school pregame for all codes, I will usually ask the coach to make a final check for jewelry and suggest keeping helmets on when required.

[Dakota]

Sounds to me, though, like Dixie is pretty explicit - remind at the plate conference, no warnings afterward... sling bat - bam, yur out!

[Skahtboi]

Indeed it is Tom! This is one of the many "safety" measures that Dixie has written in its rules.

Scott

[greymule]

Dixie rulesmakers chose a good word for throwing the bat. Sling means "to cast with a sudden and usually sweeping or swirling motion," exactly what happens when a batter lets go of a bat after a swing. Throw, on the other hand, could apply simply to tossing the bat toward the dugout on the way to first.

In ASA, an unintentionally thrown bat is penalized only if it prevents a fielder from making a play, although the umpire should caution the batter. (Intentional, unsportsmanlike throwing, slinging, flinging, hurling, etc., is something else, of course.)

[emaxos]

Thanks to all for the replies. Unfortunately for my friends daughters team, the runs that stood weren't enough to win the game. Perhaps they were down enough for the ump to invoke the compassionate rules interpretation.

[Dakota]

Originally posted by emaxos
invoke the compassionate rules interpretation.

The phrase of the day! Sounds a lot better than makin' 'em up!