Hit or error?

[uncdrew]

The only scoring that matters is the official book.

Which is pretty much Game Changer in most cases.

 

[wheresmycar]

IMO ...

If the scorekeeper is keeping the book for himself, he should score however he pleases.

If he's scoring for the coaches, he should ask how they want it to be done. "Do you want me to use the official rules of scoring, or can I make up my own rules?"

If he's submitting stats to the media or sharing with anyone to satisfy their curiosity, he should include a disclaimer, "I don't adhere to the rules of scoring. I have my own system.''

If it's a college or professional team, he is obliged to adhering to the official rules.

2020 NFHS Softball Case Book
9.5.5 Situation B: B1 hits a pop-up behind second base that could easily be caught by either F4 or F6. The ball is not caught. Ruling: Since the ball should have been caught, it is a team error and not a hit.

Since the OP is scoring High School, that is the rule set that should be applied. This case makes it clear, a fly ball that should have been caught, but is not, can be scored as an error. In this example, since the error cannot be assigned to a specific player, it is a team error.

On the opposite side, a line drive into the gap, that a very athletic CF manages to get a glove on, but cannot complete the catch, could likely be scored a hit, as this was not "ordinary effort".

 

[Dabears17]

NFCA Scoring Seminar by National Fastpitch Coaches Association | C...

coachtube.com

Not sure if this is reachable without an NFCA membership (Which is half price April 18-23rd... highly recommend), but two points from their scoring definition of an error:

https://nfca.org/web_docs/store/ATECBeyondBasicsOfScoring.pdf

1) When in doubt about whether it's an error, give the hitter the benefit of the doubt for a hit.
2) No error is charged if a fly ball is misjudged and the fielder can't recover in time to field it in good position.

Two other points:
A - Merely fielding a ball too slowly is not an error.
B- A mental error is not recorded as an error.

 

[Nimrod]

2020 NFHS Softball Case Book
9.5.5 Situation B: B1 hits a pop-up behind second base that could easily be caught by either F4 or F6. The ball is not caught. Ruling: Since the ball should have been caught, it is a team error and not a hit.

Since the OP is scoring High School, that is the rule set that should be applied. This case makes it clear, a fly ball that should have been caught, but is not, can be scored as an error. In this example, since the error cannot be assigned to a specific player, it is a team error.

On the opposite side, a line drive into the gap, that a very athletic CF manages to get a glove on, but cannot complete the catch, could likely be scored a hit, as this was not "ordinary effort".

I agree that a fly ball ''that should have been caught" can be scored an error.

The example you cite is one of two players who could've easily caught a popup.

The example in the original post is one of a single player who could not have easily caught a fly ball after misjudging it.

 

[wheresmycar]

I agree that a fly ball ''that should have been caught" can be scored an error.

The example you cite is one of two players who could've easily caught a popup.

The example in the original post is one of a single player who could not have easily caught a fly ball after misjudging it.

So, it's the score keeper's judgement. Ah, we agree after all.

 

[Dabears17]

2020 NFHS Softball Case Book
9.5.5 Situation B: B1 hits a pop-up behind second base that could easily be caught by either F4 or F6. The ball is not caught. Ruling: Since the ball should have been caught, it is a team error and not a hit.

Since the OP is scoring High School, that is the rule set that should be applied. This case makes it clear, a fly ball that should have been caught, but is not, can scored as an error. In this example, since the error cannot be assigned to a specific player, it is a team error.

On the opposite side, a line drive into the gap, that a very athletic CF manages to get a glove on, but cannot complete the catch, could likely be scored a hit, as this was not "ordinary effort".

I've always felt that an easy pop-up that drops that two or more players could of easily caught should be charged as an error. OP situation is not a pop-up, and a single player.

2022 NFHS rulebook, 9.5.5 'An error is charged against a fielder for each misplay that prolongs the time at bat of the batter; or prolongs the time a player continues to be a runner; or permits the runner to advance one or more bases. If it is impossible to assign an error to an individual player, then the team will be assessed with an error'

 

[Cannonball]

I try to follow some players in my area and for all types of reasons. They might be someone who I know the parents. They might be someone that I gave a lesson to back in the day. They might be ... Anyway, I was looking at the game results of a recent game and the newspaper article had Team A beating Team B. Team A's pitcher gave up 6 hits. One of the players I am trying to follow did not get a hit. Today, I revisited those stats and guess what. That one player now has 2 hits, an RBI, ... That seems to be a trend since I have been following this for a couple of weeks. I just talked to another coach and he told me who keeps the book and turns in the stats. You'll never guess who keeps the stats. I guess the idea is that if you make the change a few days after the game, no one will notice.

 

[jam13]

Okay, so I'm trying to decide the appropriate call for a play in my daughters HS game yesterday. DD is pitching and gives up a fly ball to CF. The CF totally misreads the ball and takes 2-3 steps in before realizing the ball will now be over her head. She turns and the ball sails over her head landing about one step behind where she started when the ball was hit. The runner wound up on 2B and eventually scored.

I know the girl never got her glove on the ball, but I scored it an error. The opposing team scored it a double on GC. What say you, people?

It SHOULD be an error, but by convention it's a double. From what I can tell from the official rule book, you COULD (and in my opinion should) record it as an error because (to summarize) the out could have been made by an ordinary player with ordinary effort. This is never done though. I don't know why. Misplayed balls should be errors. As per MLB, "A fielder is given an error if, in the judgment of the official scorer, he fails to convert an out on a play that an average fielder should have made." and as per NCAA, "it is not necessary that the fielder touch the ball to be charged with an error. If a ground ball goes through a fielder’s legs or a pop fly falls untouched and, in the scorer’s judgment, the fielder could have handled the ball with ordinary effort, an error should be charged."

 

[LEsoftballdad]

It SHOULD be an error, but by convention it's a double. From what I can tell from the official rule book, you COULD (and in my opinion should) record it as an error because (to summarize) the out could have been made by an ordinary player with ordinary effort. This is never done though. I don't know why. Misplayed balls should be errors. As per MLB, "A fielder is given an error if, in the judgment of the official scorer, he fails to convert an out on a play that an average fielder should have made." and as per NCAA, "it is not necessary that the fielder touch the ball to be charged with an error. If a ground ball goes through a fielder’s legs or a pop fly falls untouched and, in the scorer’s judgment, the fielder could have handled the ball with ordinary effort, an error should be charged."

Exactly! That's what I don't understand. Why is a physical mistake an error but not a mental one? It makes no sense.

 

[cufan99]

Okay, so I'm trying to decide the appropriate call for a play in my daughters HS game yesterday. DD is pitching and gives up a fly ball to CF. The CF totally misreads the ball and takes 2-3 steps in before realizing the ball will now be over her head. She turns and the ball sails over her head landing about one step behind where she started when the ball was hit. The runner wound up on 2B and eventually scored.

I know the girl never got her glove on the ball, but I scored it an error. The opposing team scored it a double on GC. What say you, people?

Double. Dealing with the same issues. Poor defense does not equate errors quite often. My DD's ERA is effected much more by hits due to poor defense than hits stolen, as I suspect most high school pitchers are.