It's my first post and must admit this is from softball. Runners on 1st and 2nd. batter drops down a bunt near the 1B line. 1B fields it cleanly on a charge looks to 3B but realizes there's no play there. Spins around to throw to 1B but holds the ball when the batter closes in on the bag. So, do you score this sac bunt FC, a single, or some kind of error?
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1B. By elimination - there is no error and there would have to be an out for it to be a sacrifice. I am not an expert, but I don't see it any other way.
Probably hit single but....
In OBR, a sacrifice can still be scored on 10.09(b) - although on this play the throw apparently was not made. The fact that the fielder made a look and perhaps started to make a throw (stepped toward the base or maybe cocked his arm) and changed his mind and lost all plays anywhere opens this door. I've seen that happen a 100+ times.
NNDman,
Sure sounds like a single to me. Had he tried to get F1 or F2, it would have been a sac bunt with the batter reaching on a FC.
10.12 ERRORS
An error is a statistic charged against a fielder whose action has assisted the team
on offense, as set forth in this Rule 10.12.
(a) The official scorer shall charge an error against any fielder:
(1) whose misplay (fumble, muff or wild throw) prolongs the time at bat of a batter, prolongs the presence on the bases of a runner or permits a runner to advance one or more bases, unless, in the judgment of the official scorer, such fielder deliberately permits a foul fly to fall safe with a runner on third base before two are out in order that the runner on third shall not score after the catch;
Rule 10.12(a)(1) Comment: Slow handling of the ball that does not involve mechanical misplay shall not be construed as an error. For example, the official scorer shall not charge a fielder with an error if such fielder fields a ground ball cleanly but does not throw to first base in time to retire the batter.
I've done a lot of softball the last couple of years, it is quite a bit different with fielders on the corners so close, real bats crushing the ball at them, slap hitters, etc.
In the case you describe, I score hit unless the first baseman CLEARLY gave up an out at first to look at third. I'm probably 95% hit, but I wasn't there
