fielders choice or single

FC almost classic by definition

Question is opinion of official scorer, could he have gotten the guy out at first in a reasonable manner? If so, then FC. If not then hit.

I agree with Jeff, the offical scorer would of had to make a judgement call on it. If he could of beat it out (in his opinion) then give him a hit. If the batter was slow and had no chance then F.C.

I see the catcher electing to go after the runner at home and "almost gets him" as clearly a fielders choice.

the definition being:

A fielders choice is the act of a fielder with a live ball, who elects to throw for an attempted putout or to retire unassisted any runner or batter runner, thus permitting the advance of another runner.

however the rules do allow an official scorer to decide whether the batter is credited with a safe hit. Which in most HS/youth leagues is the home team and most often not very credible.

piaa_ump.

Something bothers me..Here's the situation. 2 out and runner on 1st base. Next batter hits a ground ball towards 1st base as 1b is about to make a play on it, the ball hits the runner in the foot. This is the 3rd out. Why does offical MLB scoring give the batter a hit and the 1b a putout? How can you assume this would of been a hit?? Please explain this ruling. It just doesn't make sense.

I dont claim to be a rules historian, but I'll explain it the same way it was explained to me 20 years ago by the former SAL league umpire who trained me.

It is the responsibility of the runner to avoid being contacted with a batted ball. For being contacted by a batted ball the runner is called out.

It is not the fault of the batter that the runner has been been called out. The batter has been deprived of his opportunity to realize the effect of his batted ball (either safely hit/or out). The ball is dead and the batter is credited with a hit. For scoring clarity purposes the putout goes to the nearest fielder.

Now I don't pretend this to be the exact answer, but it made sense to me back then. For rules on this, both OBR and NFHS agree.

For citation: NFHS rule 8-4-art 2 sect K
A runner is out when:

Is contacted with a fair batted ball before it touches an infielder, except the pitcher,and the umpire is convinced that another infielder has a play.

For scoring:
NFHS Rule 9-4-art 2 c
For runner being called out because of beng hit by a batted ball, the putout is credited to the fielder who is nearest the ball at the time.