Stealing home on a third strike for third out.

[Guest Coach Petty]

High school: 2 outs, runner on third, 0-2 count. Pitcher going from wind-up (very slow) runner steals home and beats the pitch to the plate (was in LH batters box before pitch crossed the plate) umpire calls strike three. Does the run count? I have researched with no clear answer, and got conflicting answers from umpires. Some say he is out due to a force out with strikeout. Others have said the pitch is not in play until it is hit or reaches the plate

[Ruben]

Run does not count. 

It's OBR rule 5.08(a) Exception: A run is not scored if the runner advances to home base during a play in which the third out is made (1) by the batter-runner before he touches first base....

This is really the same as the somewhat more common occurrence where on a wild pitch that is swung at for strike three (uncaught third strike), where the runner from 3rd scores while the catcher is chasing the ball and ends up throwing the batter-runner out at 1st base. 

 

[Senor Azul]

2019 NFHS Case Book Play 9.1.1 Situation F:  R3 is on third with two outs and two strikes on B4. As F1 winds up, R3 starts to steal home. B4 swings at the ball but misses. Catcher drops ball. While he is looking for the ball, R3 crosses home plate, after which the catcher recovers the ball and throws B4 out at first. Does the run score? RULING:  No. The batter-runner made the third out without reaching first base safely.

FED Official Interpretation:  Hopkins:  With two outs a run does not score even if the runner touches the plate before the batter strikes out. If the runner touches home before the time of the pitch, the run counts, regardless of what happens to the batter.

FED rule 2-28 ART. 3 . . . Time of the pitch is when the pitcher has committed himself to delivering the pitch to the batter. For the windup position, the “time of the pitch” occurs when the pitcher, (a) first starts any movement of his arm(s) or leg(s) after stepping onto the pitcher’s plate with his hands already together in front of his body; (b) with both hands at his side, first starts any movement with both arms or leg(s) prior to the pitch; (c) with either hand in front of the body and the other hand at his side, after bringing his hands together, first starts any movement of his arm(s) or leg(s) prior to the pitch…

 

[Jimurray]

8 minutes ago, Ruben said:

Run does not count. 

It's OBR rule 5.08(a) Exception: A run is not scored if the runner advances to home base during a play in which the third out is made (1) by the batter-runner before he touches first base....

This is really the same as the somewhat more common occurrence where on a wild pitch that is swung at for strike three (uncaught third strike), where the runner from 3rd scores while the catcher is chasing the ball and ends up throwing the batter-runner out at 1st base. 

 

The OP asked for HS which is the same as OBR and NCAA in this case:

“EXCEPTION: A run is not scored if the runner advances to home plate during action in which the third out is made as follows:

a. by the batter-runner before he touches first base; or”

Excerpt From
2018 NFHS Baseball Rules Book
NFHS
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/2018-nfhs-baseball-rules-book/id1314997555?mt=11
This material may be protected by copyright.

I wonder what “umpires” he consulted with. 

[Senor Azul]

Here’s a high school case play that precisely matches the scenario in the original post.

2004 NFHS Baseball Rule Interpretations SITUATION 18: With two outs, R3 on third and a full count on B4, F1 delivers from the wind-up position. R3 steals on the pitch and safely touches home before F2 catches the pitch for the third strike. RULING: The run does not count. In order to score, R3 would need to touch home before the time of the pitch. (2-28-3, 9-1-1 Exception a)

[beerguy55]

It's all about time of pitch...you are where you are based on time of pitch (when the pitcher starts their delivery), and that comes into play, not only in this situation, but in scenarios for foul balls, or tagging on a fly ball, or base awards.

 

[Lou B]

One other note, the original post talks about the runner being out due to a force out with the strike out.

There is never a force out with a strike out. 

A force out occurs when a runner is "forced" to vacate his/her base due to the actions of the batter.  If the batter strikes out the runner(s) are not "forced" to do anything! 

[beerguy55]

16 hours ago, Lou B said:

One other note, the original post talks about the runner being out due to a force out with the strike out.

There is never a force out with a strike out. 

A force out occurs when a runner is "forced" to vacate his/her base due to the actions of the batter.  If the batter strikes out the runner(s) are not "forced" to do anything! 

it would be a force if K3 bounced into the plate AND the bases were loaded.  But yeah, all in all the statement in the OP doesn't make sense...if it was a D3K and the force was on F2 still has to touch the plate - no force play is so automatic that you only need to possess the ball.