NFHS HBP in Tourney Game

[TNCoach]

I know a lot of this information is unneeded, but I am going to lay out the whole situation.

 

Opening round of district tournament.  #3 seed playing #6 seed.  #3 team opens a 6-0 lead.  By the Top of 7, the #6 team had pulled to a 6-5 deficit and were looking to rally in the 7th.

 

First batter leads off with a single.  Next batter gets up and drops to 0-2 count.  F1 throws a high tight curve that doesn't break.  Batter reads the curve, so he doesn't drop.  Ball doesn't break and he throws up back of arm as the ball came right as his face.  Ball hits about 2 inches up from his elbow (I saw the kid's arm after the game).  It wasn't like he threw his arm out over the plate, but he blocked the ball from hitting him in the face.

 

He starts trotting down to 1B when the U1 calls him back. 

 

Of course, all heck breaks loose.  Batter ends up striking out.  On his way back to the dugout he says, "I should have been on first."  U1 immediately ejects. 

 

Game ends 6-5.

 

_________________________________________________________________________________

 

I saw what the umpire saw when he threw his arm up.  He said the batter has to avoid being hit (correct...)  The problem I had was it was a curve and high and tight.  We have all seen diving out of the way to have the ball break.

 

Just looking for your thoughts on this (I know to an extent it is a HTBT).

[catsbackr]

Kind of a HTBT situation, but, this is umpire judgement.  Batter doesn't have to avoid being hit, but can't allow themselves to be hit (stupid FED). 

 

I lean toward giving the batter the benefit of the doubt if it isn't obvious.  If the pitcher throws the ball in the batter's box and hits the batter 99/100 times the batter is getting first.  But, like I said, HTBT.

[Stan W.]

Sounds like HBP to me............but then again, im known to be a bit liberal with HBP

[Mike Prince]

Based on your post, I have a HBP here.

[maven]

Me too.

[mstaylor]

This is a play Stan and I have disagreed about over the years, here sure sounds like a HBP to me, and I am tight on that rule. Watching a slow curve all the way in and letting it hit him, no he stays. The simple fact that the pitcher threw it in the box has nothing to do with the rule in Fed or OBR. NCAA says different and that's fine, the other two requires some effort. The number of guys I keep over most others, a very small number. We basically agree, I simply insist on applying the standard for the level I am working. Many pitchers start a breaking ball at the hitter and break it in on the plate. Missing a little hits the batter. 

[cyclonehokiece]

Unless he swatted and hit the ball with his hand, I am probably giving him first base.  Putting an arm up to protect your face is self preservation.  But definitely HTBT.

[MPLSMatt]

I've got a HBP here too.  If he bails out and that pitch breaks, he's screwed.  Also, I know you don't go into much detail, but that sounds like a pretty quick hook too.  Given the situation (and no detail on how it was said), I'm not sure that that's EJ worthy.  If he shouts it or shows up the ump, fine, but on a controversial call (whether right or wrong) in this kind of a game, I'm not sure that it's fair to expect complete silence.  A simple "that's enough" of "back to your dugout, now" might have been a better choice.  If he persists after that, then you dump him. 

[HeadHunterLA]

@twitter.com/AbtExecSearch

 

HBP

[coachump4]

From what was described its not even close.  Batter is getting 1st.  We have been delegated to determine if he made an attempt to get out of the way.  Key word being attempt that is up to us to decide.  99% of the time I will give the batter 1st unless he intentionally sticks his arm out over the plate to get hit.  

[TNCoach]

It went against us.  Again, I understood why the umpire had this to an extent.  I would have ruled HBP (but that is easy to say when it is your team).  But the umpire saw his arm fly up and that is why he ruled the way he did.  I felt he just missed it. 

[mstaylor]

From what was described its not even close.  Batter is getting 1st.  We have been delegated to determine if he made an attempt to get out of the way.  Key word being attempt that is up to us to decide.  99% of the time I will give the batter 1st unless he intentionally sticks his arm out over the plate to get hit.  

We are charged with the duty of deciding if he let the ball intentionally hit him and/ or went after it. Both keeps him at the plate, else, besides being hit in the zone, sends him to first. This is not rocket science.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

[TNCoach]

Most may disagree with me, but this is one game where I would have likely gotten tossed had I been the head coach. I understood the umpire's call. I would have had to make sure the kids knew I had their back 100% on this one. At the very least I would have asked to be put in the dugout. I happen to be of the school of thought that there is such a thing as a good reason to get an EJ.