Batter/runner makes contact with ball outside of the batter's box

[backstop09]

A right-handed batter bunted a ball and took off toward 1st base. The ball died in fair territory in the upper, left corner of the left-handed batter's box. The batter/runner kicked it and it went foul toward the first base dugout. The home plate umpire properly announced "dead ball, dead ball" and then said "foul ball". I asked why she wasn't out because she made contact with the ball in fair territory outside of her batter's box. He said she can be in either batter's box when she makes contact with a fair ball and that makes her not be called out. That's not correct, is it?

 

[Hilliarddad3]

Fair territory is a diamond from the back corners of the plate, everything in front of that is fair territory so I say dead ball out....

 

[BretMan2]

Bad call.

The batter-runner is protected from an interference call if a batted ball is accidentally contacted in the batter's box, but that means the batter's box she was actually using to bat. Essentially, the opposite batter's box doesn't exist on this play.

Dead ball, B/R out.

 

[Hilliarddad3]

So Brett if it were a righty batter, swung, released bat, became runner and it hit her in the batter box she was in it's a dead ball strike? I could see a swinging foul ball off instep as she hadn't released bat from hands....?

 

[BretMan2]

So Brett if it were a righty batter, swung, released bat, became runner and it hit her in the batter box she was in it's a dead ball strike? I could see a swinging foul ball off instep as she hadn't released bat from hands....?

It's a dead ball and a foul ball. Any non-intentional contact between the batted ball and the batter inside the batter's box (but not the opposite batter's box!) is a foul ball.

Here's the high school rule (just because that happens to be the rule book I have on my computer right now):


ART. 1 . . . Foul Ball. A foul ball is a batted ball that:

a. settles or is touched on or over foul territory between home and first base, or between home and third base;

b. bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory;

c. first falls to the ground or is first touched on or over foul territory beyond first or third base;

d. while on or over foul territory, touches the person of an umpire, a player or any object foreign to the natural ground;

e. while over foul territory, a runner interferes with a defensive player attempting to field a batted ball;

f. touches the batter or the bat in the batter's hand(s) a second time while the batter is within the batter's box;

g. goes directly from the bat to any part of the catcher's body or equipment and is caught by another fielder. (5-1-1d2)

 

[Hilliarddad3]

Thanks as Always!!

 

[cobb_of_fury]

Bret - I don't think I understand Part g.

g. A foul ball is a batted ball that goes directly from the bat to any part of the catcher's body or equipment and is caught by another fielder. (5-1-1d2)

 

[ThompsonUSSSA]

g. A foul ball is a batted ball that goes directly from the bat to any part of the catcher's body or equipment and is caught by another fielder. (5-1-1d2)

I'll take a stab here...
This is the rule for foul 'tips'...if a foul tip goes into the catchers body and not caught immediately by the glove it's considered a normal foul ball.
This matters when:
> 3rd strike is caught - must be caught 'clean w/ glove' and not after contact with body or equipment by the catcher. (runners can advance at own risk unless 3rd out obviously)
> 1st or 2nd strike - runners can't advance on foul tips that aren't caught clean with the glove (but a direct foul tip into the glove caught & runners are at their own risk!)

 

[cobb_of_fury]

In that context it makes sense - As a standalone I didn't get it - And that's probably why there is the reference to 5-1-1d2 (I dont have the NFHS Rules here but assume that clarifies it)

 

[BretMan2]

Bret - I don't think I understand Part g.

g. A foul ball is a batted ball that goes directly from the bat to any part of the catcher's body or equipment and is caught by another fielder. (5-1-1d2)

Rule books are full of arcane stuff like this!

What this is saying is that if a batted ball is hit "sharply and directly" to the catcher (in a relatively straight line, a ball that could potentially become a foul tip) and hits the catcher anywhere (even if it's on the hands or mitt first), but bounces out and is caught by another fielder, it's a foul ball.

In other words, a foul tip can only be caught by the catcher, not rebounded off the catcher and caught by anyone else.

 

[BretMan2]

g. A foul ball is a batted ball that goes directly from the bat to any part of the catcher's body or equipment and is caught by another fielder. (5-1-1d2)

I'll take a stab here...
This is the rule for foul 'tips'...if a foul tip goes into the catchers body and not caught immediately by the glove it's considered a normal foul ball.
This matters when:
> 3rd strike is caught - must be caught 'clean w/ glove' and not after contact with body or equipment by the catcher. (runners can advance at own risk unless 3rd out obviously)
> 1st or 2nd strike - runners can't advance on foul tips that aren't caught clean with the glove (but a direct foul tip into the glove caught & runners are at their own risk!)

Foul tips can rebound off the catcher's body, so long as the FIRST thing the ball touched was the catcher's hands or mitt.

If the ball hits anything other than the catcher's hands or mitt FIRST, then it becomes a plain old foul ball.

Example: Ball is batted sharp and direct (meaning, in a relative straight line, with no perceptible arc) back to the catcher. The first thing it hits is the catcher's mask, shin guard, chest protector, bare arm, foot, etc. This is a foul ball.

Ball batted sharp and direct back to the catcher. The first thing the ball hits is the catcher's mitt. Ball then skips off the mitt, goes into the catcher's helmet, bounces up in the air, comes down and is trapped against the catcher's chest, then is grabbed and securely held in the catcher's bare hand. This would be a foul tip- live ball and a strike to the batter.

 

[#FortyFour]

What about Ball batted sharp and direct back to the catcher. The first thing the ball hits is the catcher's mask. Ball then skips off the mask, bounces up in the air, comes down and lands in the catcher's mitt?

Out? or Dead Ball Foul?

 

[Hilliarddad3]

Stated just above your post

"If the ball hits anything other than the catcher's hands or mitt FIRST, then it becomes a plain old foul ball."

 

[#FortyFour]

Stated just above your post

"If the ball hits anything other than the catcher's hands or mitt FIRST, then it becomes a plain old foul ball."

Apologies Thank You

 

[Hilliarddad3]

No apologies needed just helping you out ......