#RuleTheDiamond #3

The count is 1-1.  The batter has been asked by the third base coach to bunt.  As the pitch is delivered they are squared to the pitcher and when they make an attempt to bunt the ball, but miss the ball and it hits them square on the forearm and rolls in front of the plate.

What is the call?

a)  hit by pitch- ball is dead, batter gets first base
b)  ball is dead but a strike is called, making the count 1-2
c)  ball is dead but a ball is called since it hit the batter, making the count 2-1

The key piece of information here is that the batter made an attempt at the pitch...therefore it is a strike, but since it hit them while they were in the batter's box, the play is dead.  If the didn't make an attempt, and the ball hit them, then the play would still be called dead  but they would be awarded first base.  Unless the catcher appealed to the base umpire and he/she thought they went too far with their attempt...then we're back to the strike situation!


Here's one more for you from our Toba game last night.  I'm not sure if we'll get to any more #RuleTheDiamond posts for a while with the big event coming up in a few weeks, so I'll just explain how it all went down.

Runner on 2nd base.  Batter hits a line drive at the pitcher.  Pitcher gets a piece of it with her glove and re-directs the ball towards shortstop, where the runner from 2nd is passing by on her way to 3rd base.  The ball hits her on the leg and rolls away from the shortstop, who is now unable to make a play on the batter.

Hmmmmmmmm..........

There is no call on the play!  This is not a case of interference on the runner because the pitcher touched the ball first, which calls off interference on the runner when the ball hit her.  Now, if the shortstop had been interfered with by the runner when she went to make a play on the ball we could have a different story, but in this case...just keep on running down to third base!

I wish I had an appropriate photo to post with this story...but these will have to do!  Pictures of the team putting that net together never get old...even they know it is hilarious to watch.