USSSA RULES:
221. R1 is on first base with two outs. A called third strike is dropped by F2 and the ball rolls along the first base line. B4 and R1 have already advanced one base when F3 scoops up the ball and makes a wild throw to F5 in an attempt to retire R1 at third base. The thrown ball goes out of play or gets stuck in the fence.
Ruling - DEAD BALL and a TWO BASE AWARD; R1 is awarded home plate, and B4 is awarded third base. Each runner is awarded two bases from the time of the throw when a live thrown ball goes over or lodges in a fence (8.14.C.3, p 47)
Note: in Fastpitch, direction of the runner at the time of the errant throw is irrelevant; WHETHER ADVANCING OR RETURNING, runners are awarded two bases from the time of the throw. If the runner is between:
First base and second base - award second base and third base
Second base and third base - award third base and home
Third base and home - award home
If two runners are BOTH between first base and second base, only the lead runner is awarded two bases; the trail is awarded second base only (they can't both be on third base when the next pitch is thrown)
If two runners are both between second base and third base, BOTH runners are awarded both third base and home
222. R1 is on second base. B2 hits a pitched ball in the air to the outfield. R1 stands behind second base and not in contact with the bag to get a running start before the ball is caught. After the ball is caught, R1 advances, touching second base on her way to third base.
Ruling - LIVE BALL and R1 is declared OUT. A runner is out when she is detected taking a position for a running start behind and not in contact with a base (8.18.R, p 52)
223. R1 is on second base. The third base coach or batter yells "time". The pitcher, who has started the pitching motion, stops and does not release the ball.
Ruling - NO PITCH is declared, the ball is DEAD, and all subsequent action is canceled. No player, manager or coach shall call "Time", employ any other word or phrase, or commit any act while the ball is live and in play to effect an illegal pitch. For a first offense deemed to be minor, the offending player may be warned or the offending coach may be restricted to the bench; for a subsequent offense or one which is not minor, the umpire should EJECT the offender (6.4.E, p 37; 11.2.S & PENALTY L-T, p 59)
224. The batter bunts or swings at a pitched ball, hitting it toward the ground. The ball rebounds off the plate and hits the bat (still in the batter's hands) a second time, in fair territory, while the batter has a) both feet still in the box, b) one foot in the box and one foot in the air outside the box, or c) at least one foot touching the ground entirely outside of the batter's box.
Ruling - in a), b) and c), the ball is DEAD when the ball comes in contact with the bat a second time while it is in the batter's hands.
In a) and b), NO VIOLATION and a FOUL BALL is declared. It is a foul ball when a batted ball touches the bat in the batter's hand(s) a second time while the batter is still within the batter's box.
In c), DEAD BALL and the batter-runner is declared OUT. The batter-runner is out when she contacts the ball a second time when one foot has completely left the batter's box AND IS IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND
(3.FOUL BALL.F, p 21; 7.14.F, p 40; 10.1.B, p 56)
225. The batter hits a pitched ball for a single to right field. The batter-runner attempts to stretch the hit into a double. The outfielder's throw hits the base umpire and allows the batter-runner to arrive safely at second base.
Ruling - LIVE BALL and the runner is SAFE at second base. There is no interference when an umpire is struck by a thrown ball
QUICKIE QUIZ:
What are the two types of umpire interference?
i) when the plate umpire interferes with the catcher's throw on a steal or pick off -- the ball is DELAYED DEAD to allow the play on the runner to continue. If the runner is put out on the steal or pick off, the ball remains live; otherwise, the ball is immediately dead when the attempted putout on the steal/pickoff is unsuccessful, and all runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch
ii) when the umpire is struck by a fair ball (which is over fair ground) before touching any fielder and before passing any fielder OTHER THAN THE PITCHER, the ball is DEAD, the batter-runner is awarded first base, and other runners advance only if forced by the award to the batter-runner
221. R1 is on first base with two outs. A called third strike is dropped by F2 and the ball rolls along the first base line. B4 and R1 have already advanced one base when F3 scoops up the ball and makes a wild throw to F5 in an attempt to retire R1 at third base. The thrown ball goes out of play or gets stuck in the fence.
Ruling - DEAD BALL and a TWO BASE AWARD; R1 is awarded home plate, and B4 is awarded third base. Each runner is awarded two bases from the time of the throw when a live thrown ball goes over or lodges in a fence (8.14.C.3, p 47)
Note: in Fastpitch, direction of the runner at the time of the errant throw is irrelevant; WHETHER ADVANCING OR RETURNING, runners are awarded two bases from the time of the throw. If the runner is between:
First base and second base - award second base and third base
Second base and third base - award third base and home
Third base and home - award home
If two runners are BOTH between first base and second base, only the lead runner is awarded two bases; the trail is awarded second base only (they can't both be on third base when the next pitch is thrown)
If two runners are both between second base and third base, BOTH runners are awarded both third base and home
222. R1 is on second base. B2 hits a pitched ball in the air to the outfield. R1 stands behind second base and not in contact with the bag to get a running start before the ball is caught. After the ball is caught, R1 advances, touching second base on her way to third base.
Ruling - LIVE BALL and R1 is declared OUT. A runner is out when she is detected taking a position for a running start behind and not in contact with a base (8.18.R, p 52)
223. R1 is on second base. The third base coach or batter yells "time". The pitcher, who has started the pitching motion, stops and does not release the ball.
Ruling - NO PITCH is declared, the ball is DEAD, and all subsequent action is canceled. No player, manager or coach shall call "Time", employ any other word or phrase, or commit any act while the ball is live and in play to effect an illegal pitch. For a first offense deemed to be minor, the offending player may be warned or the offending coach may be restricted to the bench; for a subsequent offense or one which is not minor, the umpire should EJECT the offender (6.4.E, p 37; 11.2.S & PENALTY L-T, p 59)
224. The batter bunts or swings at a pitched ball, hitting it toward the ground. The ball rebounds off the plate and hits the bat (still in the batter's hands) a second time, in fair territory, while the batter has a) both feet still in the box, b) one foot in the box and one foot in the air outside the box, or c) at least one foot touching the ground entirely outside of the batter's box.
Ruling - in a), b) and c), the ball is DEAD when the ball comes in contact with the bat a second time while it is in the batter's hands.
In a) and b), NO VIOLATION and a FOUL BALL is declared. It is a foul ball when a batted ball touches the bat in the batter's hand(s) a second time while the batter is still within the batter's box.
In c), DEAD BALL and the batter-runner is declared OUT. The batter-runner is out when she contacts the ball a second time when one foot has completely left the batter's box AND IS IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND
(3.FOUL BALL.F, p 21; 7.14.F, p 40; 10.1.B, p 56)
225. The batter hits a pitched ball for a single to right field. The batter-runner attempts to stretch the hit into a double. The outfielder's throw hits the base umpire and allows the batter-runner to arrive safely at second base.
Ruling - LIVE BALL and the runner is SAFE at second base. There is no interference when an umpire is struck by a thrown ball
QUICKIE QUIZ:
What are the two types of umpire interference?
i) when the plate umpire interferes with the catcher's throw on a steal or pick off -- the ball is DELAYED DEAD to allow the play on the runner to continue. If the runner is put out on the steal or pick off, the ball remains live; otherwise, the ball is immediately dead when the attempted putout on the steal/pickoff is unsuccessful, and all runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch
ii) when the umpire is struck by a fair ball (which is over fair ground) before touching any fielder and before passing any fielder OTHER THAN THE PITCHER, the ball is DEAD, the batter-runner is awarded first base, and other runners advance only if forced by the award to the batter-runner