Runner on 3rd base one out. Batter hits ball in fair play for a base hit but hits the catcher with the bat in the arm and umpire calls the batter out. Does the run count or is this a dead ball and runner must return to 3rd base?
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Anonymous
ANSWERS: 1
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To answer the question you need to provide a little more information. Did the umpire judge the batter interfered with the catcher making a play? Or did the batter release the bat carelessly or "throw" the bat and hit the catcher? If it was rule interference, then the ball is dead and the runner returned to his time of pitch base. If the umpire called the batter out for throwing his bat and hitting the catcher, such a call is not supported by any rule set. Some rules (high school for example) allow for a ejection for carelessly throwing a bat (after a team warning has been issued) and Little League recommends the same action. But no rules allow an out for simply throwing the bat unless the umpire judged the act intentional interference. I should clarify that - no rule set published by a recognized organization allow an out. This includes Little League, High School, NCAA, American Legion, and OBR. Some local rec leagues and perhaps some local Little Leagues insert such a rule, but there is nothing in the rule book to support calling an out just because a batter carelessly threw his bat.
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