Situation NFHS Rules Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out,strike three on the batter and the catcher drops the ball. Both runners move on the pitch. The batter/runner attempts to run to 1st. The catcher throws towards 1st and hits the B/R who is outside the lane.The batter cannot advance, that is a given, but how would you handle this situation and what NFHS rule or rules would apply?
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Situation NFHS Rules Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out,strike three on the batter and the catcher drops the ball. Both runners move on the pitch. The batter/runner attempts to run to 1st. The catcher throws towards 1st and hits the B/R who is outside the lane.The batter cannot advance, that is a given, but how would you handle this situation and what NFHS rule or rules would apply?
Unless the (retired) batter intentionally interfered with the throw, play the bounce.
Catcher screwed up, sorry coach. The PU should be calling the batter out at the plate, but the catcher has to figure the situation out on his own. In the sitch with R1,R3, even if the runner was allowed to advance, the catcher still has to defense the runners. He has to at least check the runner before he throws. I was taught growing up that the lead runner is the important one.
We had something like this a few years ago. Runners on 1st and 3rd, one out, dropped third strike, batter wrongly ran to first. Catcher wrongly threw to first and over threw. R3 scored.
Umpire claimed batter intentionally caused catcher to make this ill-advised throw and sent R3 back to 3rd.
The umpire was wrong and I'm sorry to say it wasn't the first time and it won't be the last. And while I haven't made that mistake I've sure made my share of others.
Guys:
Help me out here as I am still thinking like a coach. I’ve umpired some JHS games recently where the coach is telling his guys to run on any strike three in the dirt. I understand it’s a product of bad baseball and leads to more bad baseball. However as an umpire do I now have to start worrying about the BR intentionally trying to confuse the defense or interfering with them trying to make a play on R1 returning?
My mechanic on this play is to signal the swing and then verbalize; “On the swing, strike three, the batters out”. After that I’d set up for a possible play at the plate. Only if I thought the BR who is out intentionally interfered with a defensive player trying to make a play do I have anything else?
Thank you ALL! I would have had strike three and I believe the defense HAS to know the situation! We don't say ball four...take your base...just ball...why should we say strike three batters out? Players have to know what they are going to do. I give the count on counts of decision ball three or strike two.
Thank you ALL! I would have had strike three and I believe the defense HAS to know the situation! We don't say ball four...take your base...just ball...why should we say strike three batters out? Players have to know what they are going to do. I give the count on counts of decision ball three or strike two.
If the batter is not allowed to go to first, you should say batter's out. I do it more than once but it lets both offense and defense know he can't go. 3rdgeneration, do not worry about a batter doing it on purpose, not our problem. The catcher has to know what he is doing and if he doesn't check the R3, that's on him.
Thanks MST !
