On deck batter picks up live ball

[jbucks]

Runners on first and third, one out, 0-1 count. Batter swings and misses at a wild pitch, both runners attempting to advance, and the on-deck batter inexplicably picks up the live ball.

 

Is there a specific NFHS rule prescribed for this? Clearly it's interference by the offensive team, but what is the proper way to handle this situation?

 

Clearly if there were two outs and two strikes, it'd be easy to call the batter out and end the inning. But with one out and this being strike two, is the runner closest the plate out?

 

[Thunderheads]

what the hell ........

Your last comment is "probably true" because INT always gets an out.

 

However, my first thought was; strike 2, send them back.  But, I'm probably wrong

[maven]

The clause you're looking for is buried in 8-4-2-g: "Any runner is out when... his being put out is prevented by an ­illegal act by anyone connected with the team..."
 
So, you have to judge whether his picking up the ball prevented the defense from playing on an advancing runner. For me, this call will have a lot to do with the dimensions behind the plate and how fast the ball gets to him.
 
If the ODB is far from F2, and the runners were standing on their advance base when he picked up the ball, I've probably got nothing but a stern warning. If the ODB is near F2 and there was any miniscule chance that F2 might have even remotely gotten the ball somewhere to make a play, then it's INT. Benefit of any tiny shred of doubt, way, way to the defense.
 
In the same rule, same paragraph, we have this guidance: "If the umpire is uncertain who would have been played on, the runner closest to home shall be called out." Other runners would return to their TOI bases.

[Thunderheads]

The clause you're looking for is buried in 8-4-2-g: "Any runner is out when... his being put out is prevented by an ­illegal act by anyone connected with the team..."

 

So, you have to judge whether his picking up the ball prevented the defense from playing on an advancing runner. For me, this call will have a lot to do with the dimensions behind the plate and how fast the ball gets to him.

 

If the ODB is far from F2, and the runners were standing on their advance base when he picked up the ball, I've probably got nothing but a stern warning. If the ODB is near F2 and there was any miniscule chance that F2 might have even remotely gotten the ball somewhere to make a play, then it's INT. Benefit of any tiny shred of doubt, way, way to the defense.

 

In the same rule, same paragraph, we have this guidance: "If the umpire is uncertain who would have been played on, the runner closest to home shall be called out." Other runners would return to their TOI bases.

just like I said .... I was wrong!

 

Thanks Maven .... but .... know the rulebook for a change, would ya?!? LOL

[maven]

Yessir.

[jbucks]

Thanks, maven. My instincts were correct on this one.

[johnnyg08]

I had a play once where the offense was chasing a foul ball down the line.  He was coming back w/ the foul ball and the batter hit a "double" down the RF line.  He (the offensive player) bends over and picks up the ball.  

 

I kill the ball.  Grant the double, but stop R1 at 3B.  

 

I feel like I judged it correctly. 

[maven]

I had a play once where the offense was chasing a foul ball down the line.  He was coming back w/ the foul ball and the batter hit a "double" down the RF line.  He (the offensive player) bends over and picks up the ball.  

 

I kill the ball.  Grant the double, but stop R1 at 3B.  

 

I feel like I judged it correctly. 

 

Would you have scored R1 if the guy interfering played for the defense? (This is not a trick question.)

[Jocko]

@maven - interesting question. My gut instinct is to award 2 bases from TOI in the scenario you present. But I will search for rule/case support.

[maven]

@johnnyg08 has the right idea: INT by a person authorized to be on the field relies on umpire judgment to make awards, call outs, etc. OBR 3.15, FED 8-3-3-e

 

I was just curious whether he was giving the defense the benefit of the doubt because the offense interfered, and whether it would go the other way if the defense interfered.

[johnnyg08]

 

I had a play once where the offense was chasing a foul ball down the line.  He was coming back w/ the foul ball and the batter hit a "double" down the RF line.  He (the offensive player) bends over and picks up the ball.  

 

I kill the ball.  Grant the double, but stop R1 at 3B.  

 

I feel like I judged it correctly. 

 

Would you have scored R1 if the guy interfering played for the defense? (This is not a trick question.)

 

 

Interesting question.  I tend to lean conservative on my "place the runner" base awards.  But I do think the benefit of the doubt shifts.  I think we need to look at the entire situation.  Who's R1?  What's the situation?  Would they now have R2, R3 zero out where they likely would've held R1 at 3B?  

 

I can't say what I would've done for sure.  I don't remember all of the details of the situation.