Retired Batter Advances

2) R1 on third, R2 on second, R3 on first. There is less than two outs. 2 Strikes on the batter B1. B1 swings and misses and the ball is not caught by F2. B1 is out as first base is occupied with less than 2 outs. B1 proceeds to advance to first drawing a throw from F2. In turn R1 advance home without a play.

I have read the case book on this but wanted to ask about a different interpretation.

Case book say

SITUATION B: With less than two outs R1 on first base, F2 does not catch B2’s third strike. B2 begins
running to first base, F2 attempts to throw B2 out and overthrows F3.
RULING: As soon as B2 starts to run to first, the umpire shall announce that B2 is out (because of the
third strike and first base being occupied). The ball remains live. (7-14-D)

D. A third strike (in flight) is not caught, provided a runner occupies first base at the time
of the pitch and there are less than two outs.
NOTE: If there are two outs or if no runner occupies first base, the batter is not out
unless the third strike is caught. The batter is entitled to try to reach first base before
being tagged out or thrown out.

Here is my contention: Looking at the following rules.

8-4-B note

Sec 4. A batter becomes a batter runner with the right to attempt to score by advancing to
first, second and third and then home plate in the listed order when:
A. Hitting a fair ball.
NOTE: Batter becomes a runner when entitled to run.
B. Charged with a third strike.
NOTE: if a third strike is caught, the batter is out an instant after becoming a runner.

Rule 8 Sec 18 H notes 3:

H. Being put out is prevented by an illegal act by anyone connected with the team.
NOTE 1: If, in the judgment of the Umpire, a runner interferes in any way and
prevents a double play anywhere, two shall be declared out (the runner who
interferes and the runner closest to home).
NOTE 2: If a retired runner interferes and, in the judgment of the Umpire, another
runner could have been put out, the Umpire shall declare the runner closest to home
out.
NOTE 3: If the batter-runner interferes, the Umpire shall call the batter-runner and the
runner who has advanced the nearest to home base out.

IN looking at these rules I could rule:

B1 out on called third strike.
R1 out for batter-runner interferes.

Thank you for your consideration of these rule interpretations.



RESPONSE
Bases loaded less than 2 outs Batter strikes out and catcher drops ball. Batter is out. In general, there would be no interference on the retired batter. The ball would remain alive. The runners can advance with liability to be put out.

Our rules interpretations are based on the principal that all players, both offense and defense, should be aware of the situation. Therefore it is the catcher's responsibility to know the batter has been retired.
As described, I would score the R1’s run.

If this was an obvious and/or repetitive deceptive act on the part of the offense team, it could be ruled unsportsmanlike. This would result in an initial warning and returning the runner to third. Subsequent acts would be cause for ejection.

Retired Runner Advances

QUESTION
R1 on third, R2 on second, R3 on first. There is less than two outs. B1 hits a ground ball to F5 who steps on third (R2 is out). F5 throws the ball home wildly. R3 rounds second base and continues to third. R2 (already out) continues to run the bases and heads to home. F3 retrieves the wild throw and in turn throw home to make a play on R2 (already out). Play end with time being called.

Rule 8 Sec 18 H notes 2:

H. Being put out is prevented by an illegal act by anyone connected with the team.
NOTE 1: If, in the judgment of the Umpire, a runner interferes in any way and
prevents a double play anywhere, two shall be declared out (the runner who
interferes and the runner closest to home).
NOTE 2: If a retired runner interferes and, in the judgment of the Umpire, another
runner could have been put out, the Umpire shall declare the runner closest to home
out.
NOTE 3: If the batter-runner interferes, the Umpire shall call the batter-runner and the
runner who has advanced the nearest to home base out.

R2 was initial out at third.
R1 would score and run counts
R3 would be out under rule 8-18-H N2

Do you Agree?



RESPONSE
Agree
R2 is out at 3rd base. R1 scores run counts. R3 is out as a result of interference by retired R2 (8.18.H.NOTE 2)

Jewelry - religious items

Question
Jewerly - We know that medical bracelets/necklaces are allowed provided that they are taped down and the medical condition is exposed. Religious items came up. This item is covered in the H.S. rule book but not ours. In this PC world, I don't want to get into a religious war. Is USSSA FP allowing religious items provided they are treated the same as medical?

Response
2.5 Jewelry – Our jewelry rule exempts medical alert bracelets and necklaces. We have no such exemption for religious items that would exclude them from the jewelry rule.

Playing Short

Question
Rule 5.2 Playing Short - "Under no circumstances shall a team be allowed to have less than eight (8) players in the batting order". Very simple. However, a long discussion came out of this. If a team starts with 2 AP's (11 batters) can they drop to 8? My answer is no, they can only drop to 10. But "the black and white" Umpires kept bringing up the rule. As I explained, that portion of the rule is for starting a game and a game in progress with only 9 players.

Response
5.2 Playing Short.
The very first sentence says “A team shall be allowed to play one player short”.
You are correct if you start with 2 APs batting 11, you may go down to 10 but no lower.
And for those that need every case spelled out:
If you start with 1 AP batting 10, you may go down to 9 but no lower.
If you start batting 9, you may go down to 8 but no lower.

5.2.B refers to a team starting shorthanded. The last sentence you quoted is meant to emphasis that a team starting with eight players may not go down any further. The team is really playing with a nine player line-up with the first eight batting positions filled and the ninth vacant.

Pitcher's step

Question
In the pitching I can across this and would like to know what was meant to be printed. Seems a little odd the way it is worded.

Rule 6 Sec 1 E 2
Once the hands are brought together, the pitcher shall not take more
than one-step, which must be forward, toward the batter and simultaneous
with the delivery. Any step backward shall begin before the
hands come together. The step backward may end before or after the
hands come together.

Response
The pitcher is allowed to take a step backwards before the pitch starts.
If the pitcher wants to step back with the non-pivot foot, she may do so prior to bringing the hands together.

Once the pitch starts, only one step may be taken and if taken, it must be forward, toward the batter and within the 24-inch length of the pitcher’s plate.

Welcome

This Blog has been created to answer question regarding USSSA Fastpitch rules.

Batwarmer

Question
I am trying to get something definite on the use of bat warmers. With the high cost of composite bats and the possibility of breakage in cold weather it poses a problem. Not only for the cost of replacement but for safety as well. In the past our subs did their beat to keep the bats warm by holding them between their legs but were told they couldn't use their gloves with hand warmers. A simple blanket wrap doesn't do enough when the snow is blowing as it often does in the early March games. So what is the ruling? Can we use bat warmers with hand warmers thrown inside the warmer?

Response
The Pyroflite Batwarmer is the only bat warmer endorsed by USSSA at this time.