Bat Hits Ball - NFHS

[youngump]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Speaking ASA

IF the umpire judges there is a possible play to be made and this action prevents the defense from obtaining the ball to make a play, it is INT (8.2.F.5) and the BR is out. The ball is dead and all runners return to the last base at the time of the INT

How long can you wait to make this determination? By that I mean, imagine that the ball kicks away pretty good and as a result the BR tries to take second. Can that be the play?

[RKBUmp]

If Andy checks this post maybe he can remember. I believe we had almost this exact play happen at a HS game 2 or 3 years ago. I thought it went up the chain for a rules clarification, but I may be mistaken.

My recollection was as long as their was no play being attempted, it should have been treated as a blocked ball by the offense, dead ball all runners return, batter awarded 1st on the base on balls.

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

If Andy checks this post maybe he can remember. I believe we had almost this exact play happen at a HS game 2 or 3 years ago. I thought it went up the chain for a rules clarification, but I may be mistaken.

My recollection was as long as their was no play being attempted, it should have been treated as a blocked ball by the offense, dead ball all runners return, batter awarded 1st on the base on balls.

I do not recall this coming from Andy or a play in Az, but I do remember a similar ruling in Pa for Fed ball.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by youngump

How long can you wait to make this determination? By that I mean, imagine that the ball kicks away pretty good and as a result the BR tries to take second. Can that be the play?

I think I'd be reluctant to go there. If there was a play at the time of the bat hitting the ball, I'd call INT. I think I'd be more inclined to kill it (blocked ball) if there was no play at the moment, but the ball being deflected CREATED an opportunity for the offense to move.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by youngump

How long can you wait to make this determination? By that I mean, imagine that the ball kicks away pretty good and as a result the BR tries to take second. Can that be the play?

With a runner on 3rd isn't that more likely to happen than not? I'm with Mike, I would kill the ball and if there was a pending play, possibly call INT

I know that you are applying the rules as written, but I am going to play Devil's Advocate here and look at this play from a different point of view. The Batter had received four balls and was "awarded" 1B. More importantly, why is the ball rolling around up the 3B line? F2 didn't do her job in catching the pitch. The Batter/Runner may be "required" to may a better toss of her bat to the On-Deck Batter, but if F2 had done her job of catching the pitch then we would not be having this discussion.

Okay. But along that line of thought, should we just award the BR 1st on a D3K since the defense failed to do their job? Or eliminate the D3K since the batter failed to do their job by hitting the ball? Or allow runners to run over a defender when they miss a throw? Or.........well, you know. That is why there are rules because if there wasn't, we can "what if" or "why not" every situation to death.

BTW, remember, there is no requirement to discard the bat...ever.