HBP in the dirt

It's a dead ball because it is a HBP.
It is not a dead ball because it hit the ground and then the batter.

it is a HBP. The rules (at all levels) do not differentiate between when a pitch hits a batter in flight and when it hits after a bounce. The book considers both to be the same.

HBP-Thanks guys!!!

It's a pitch whether it hits the ground or not. Like any pitch if it hits him it's a HBP, if it doesn't then it's ball. If the player wants to swing at it - it's legit, whether he gets a hit off it or a swing and miss strike, it's like any other pitch.

what if it bounces into the strike zone?

No strike unless the batter swings at it. For a strike to be called the pitch must enter the zone in flight.

ok, thats what i was thinking