Umpire Blunder. What to do?

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

B4 isn't out unless strike 3 is called.

It wasn't.

The UIC has the official count. No one else matters. You may be able to convince him he's wrong but if you can't - tough.

If they truly decided it should have been strike 3 it was umpire error, not the player's error. Don't punish the players.

And how could two teams and two sets of fans not notice and make a commotion?

And even so, if you want to get B4 for BOO then it's too late, the first pitch to the "improper" B4 legitimized it and B5 is now the proper batter. And he's up. Play on.

Denmark. Foul odor.

And if this were a baseball board, some of that might be accurate. One more case where this isn't the same game played by girls.

1) There is no UIC in a softball game. There is a PU, and (usually) one or more BU's. They each have designated responsibilities, but neither is in a secondary or lesser position.

2) The official count is what can be established as being the correct count. Only if it cannot be established is the PU's count the default result.

3) B4 is out when strike 3 happens; that is a rule. No matter how many people overlook or mistake it, it is an out.

4) All teams, coaches and players, are responsible to know the game situation. Slipping it past a mistaken umpire, who lost the count for a moment, isn't a free pass. It isn't punishing the players by enforcing the rules; it is the rule to enforce the rules.

5) Continuing to bat after being out is a player error; one condoned (by failing to correct) by the offensive coaches. They get what they get.

6) When B4 bats twice, the second at-bat isn't legitimized until a pitch to a SUCCEEDING batter. That didn't happen. First at-bat was legal; result was an out. Second at-bat is BOO; appealed before a next pitch, B5 is now out, and B6 is the next batter. Andy's answer is spot-on; in every softball rule set.