Batter hit with an illegal pitch

[Andy]

Originally Posted by HugoTafurst

Actually, the wording is "runner" as opposed to "batter runner".
I had this happen to me in a game an NFHS few weeks ago.
I believe in the heat of the moment, I blew the ruling when I didn't allow the offensive coach the choice of play or penalty.

...and this is the crux of the issue....

6-1-f3 exception states that if the batter hits the ball fair or foul or becomes a runner, that an option is given.

The term "runner" is not defined in the NFHS book.

If you go to rule 8, Batter-Runner and Runner, 8-1-2b says that the batter is awarded first base when hit by a pitched ball (absent the exceptions) and that the ball is dead. What this seems to say to me is that the batter never becomes a batter-runner, but becomes a runner when she reaches first base and the ball is back in play.

I was initially leaning toward giving the option, but now think that I would just award first base and be done with it.

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by Andy

...and this is the crux of the issue....

6-1-f3 exception states that if the batter hits the ball fair or foul or becomes a runner, that an option is given.

The term "runner" is not defined in the NFHS book.

If you go to rule 8, Batter-Runner and Runner, 8-1-2b says that the batter is awarded first base when hit by a pitched ball (absent the exceptions) and that the ball is dead. What this seems to say to me is that the batter never becomes a batter-runner, but becomes a runner when she reaches first base and the ball is back in play.

I was initially leaning toward giving the option, but now think that I would just award first base and be done with it.

That was my dilemma, also (for pretty much the same reason- the question of did she actually become a runner) - and my first decision (and ruling on the field) was that she did not and that no option was given.

Upon second guessing myself, and thinking about "with the book/by the book", I started wondering why we would essentially did-advantage the offended team. That is when I decided that I should have given the option.

To me this is a good example of the letter of the rule vs. the spirit of the rules question as pertains to the rule and definition of runner.....

[marvin]

NFHS rules:

For those of you who say that they would not give the option would not the proper call (with no option given to the offensive coach) be a ball on the batter and any runners advanced one base?

I am in the camp that says that before the play ended the batter became a runner and would give the coach the option of the result of the play (batter awarded first and runners advanced if forced by the batter) or the award for the illegal pitch which is a ball on the batter and runners advance one base.