Need help on a ruling

[Woodchuck]

I agree leave the bat alone, that's what the ondeck batter should take care of. I instruct all of our umpires during clinics to leave the equipment alone and just call the game, that's what you are being paid to do.

Now to the question. In USSSA slo-pitch only the batters bat discarted in fair territory is considered part of the playing field, otherwise it is foreign and a dead ball. As is in most organizations rules the player being played on is out if in your judgement you had a chance to make a play (out), if not you send them back to base they had legally attained when the ball was declared dead.