Dropped Strike 2, ASA Rule Book

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by umpire george

Dropped Strike 2, ASA Rule Book
No outs, No one on base.
Count of 3 balls 1 strike on batter.
On next pitch, batter swings at and missed pitch which hits dirt in front of plate. Catcher catches pitch cleanly.
Batter believes this is a dropped 3rd srtike and runs to 1st. base.
F2 throws ball to F3.
Do we award ball 4 to batter because the catcher did not throw the ball directly back to the pitcher?
If we do not award ball 4, what rule do we tell OC was used to put batter back in BB to complete her at bat?

I'd probably have an ejection before I'd start quoting the rule book to "correct" the situation.

Based upon actual rules, I would cite 6-7-B. "The catcher shall return the ball directly to the pitcher after each pitch, except after a strikeout, a put out or an attempted put out made by the catcher.

While the put out wasn't actually possible, it was "attempted." Plus, if the batter thought it was a strikeout, who could fault the catcher?

With that said, "We're playing ball coach. Get back in the dugout" should resolve the issue without any need for references.