Lead-off Batter = On-Deck Batter?

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

The rule does say "single on-deck batter" as quoted; but is this OOO.

It may be. But I've seen teams on occasion with more than two batters out there (e.g., lead-off, on-deck, in-the-hole). We've got to draw the line somewhere, or teams will just trot out their entire roster to take a few cuts as opposed to having them jog to the foul pole and back.

I was just trying to verify NFHS's intent here. The rule book doesn't make it clear if only the lead-off batter, or the lead-off batter and the on-deck batter, is allowed.

[Andy]

The lead off batter each inning is the current batter. The on deck batter is the one who follows her. I have always allowed both of them out of the dugout between innings, but no more than those two. Never been instructed otherwise.

We had a local 12u coach a few years back that wanted his entire team out of the dugout swinging bats between innings as an intimidation factor. We put an end to that pretty quick....

[Dutch Alex]

Originally Posted by Andy

The lead off batter each inning is the current batter. The on deck batter is the one who follows her. I have always allowed both of them out of the dugout between innings, but no more than those two. Never been instructed otherwise.

We had a local 12u coach a few years back that wanted his entire team out of the dugout swinging bats between innings as an intimidation factor. We put an end to that pretty quick....

Andy,
In red I've highlighted where you go wrong in my opinion. In between innings there's no current batter. Because no batter is allowed in the battersbox. So the first up to bat is the on-deck batter. In our competition and in ESF players looked very surprised when we started to enforce the rule more strictly. However now days no extra players come out. If they do, we just warn them and it's over...

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Andy

The lead off batter each inning is the current batter. The on deck batter is the one who follows her. I have always allowed both of them out of the dugout between innings, but no more than those two. Never been instructed otherwise.

We had a local 12u coach a few years back that wanted his entire team out of the dugout swinging bats between innings as an intimidation factor. We put an end to that pretty quick....

I think you are thinking the NCAA rule (which I prefer, actually). It is clear that between innings, two and only two people can be swinging bats on the field; the batter must be in foul territory and outside the batters box (and you can decide how far), and the (then) on-deck batter, to be in the on-deck circle.

So far as ASA and NFHS, I have a simpler way of looking at it, since there is no clear allowance like NCAA. Until I say (or can say; if not said, it isn't until I sweep the plate after the catcher throws down to 2nd) "batter up", no one is currently a batter [ASA 7-1.C(1), NFHS 7-5-3-a, and 2-5-3]; the first person to bat is still on-deck until that point. At the same time, if they stay over by the on-deck circle and not into the "space" to "time the pitches", I am prone to ignoring the second "on-deck" batter, similar to the NCAA allowance; just not more than that.