FLBaseballCoach

MAY 2, 2024--JACKSONVILLE, FL TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY vs BISHOP SNYDER HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 2-3A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 2 outs and 2 strikes on the batter. The batter swings at a high fastball for strike 3 and the ball pops out of the catchers glove. On the batters follow through, the bat strikes the lose ball in the air before it has touched the ground and knocks the ball to the backstop allowing the batter to reach first base on a dropped 3rd strike. The ball had not touched the ground, it was still in the air, and the batter was still in the batters box. The catcher could have secured the ball before it hit the ground for the out, conversely, the follow through was unintentional, and a natural baseball move. Initially the umpires awarded the runner first base on a dropped 3rd strike, after conferring (There are 3 umpires because this Is a High School PlayoffGame) the batter/runner was called out on followthrough interference--this is the rule they applied NFHS Rule Book Rule 7 Section 3 Article 5c. A batter shall not Interfere with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by making any other movement, including follow-through interference, which hinders actions at home plate or the catcher’s attempt to play on a runner. WAS THIS RULE APPLIED CORRECTLY????

Thank you, and I appreciate the way that you would handle the situation. I had a parent complaining about the opposing team this past Thursday. It was a great game between 2 teams ranked in the top 3 of our respected classifications in Florida. Every player on the opposing team was wearing the wristbands on their belts, and the parent insisted that it should be brought to the umpires attention. Just curious if it was legal or not, thats how I found this thread. Not something I would bring up, but it is something that I would tell our players not to do.

Not the Umpire's job to determine if a rule is worth enforcing or not. Personally I would not point it out, but if an opposing coach points it out, it should be enforced. It is the rule. Do your job.

https://www.nfhs.org/sports-resource-content/baseball-rules-interpretations-2022 See situation #3, this was clarified this year.