Lead off hitter removes batters box

[Velho]

Observed this during my son's varsity HS game. Bottom of the 1st the leadoff hitter uses his foot to wipe out the front line of the batters box. Not subtle. He swept it like it was curling.

I've never had this happen but curious if others have and/or what they've done or would do about it.

[maven]

Eject him.

Kidding. Ignore and live long.

[noumpere]

Some codes has (have / had) an interp where you don't allow this and have the line re-drawn if needed.  If the batter persists after you tell n=him to stop -- well, then you can eject.

[ArchAngel72]

Lines?  you guys have actual lines..  WOW!

 

[SH0102]

Interesting, usually they try to erase the back line.

Maybe a simple “hey, ya know if you make me guess if you’re out of the box bc you do that, it prob won’t go your way” would do the trick

[Senor Azul]

Here are a couple codes that prohibit erasing chalk lines--

2021-2022 NCAA baseball rule 3-6

j. Players and coaches are prohibited from deliberately erasing the batter’s box or other lines. Umpires must stop the individual from erasing the lines.

Note: The umpire has authority to require the batter to stand in a proper batting position. He may require the grounds crew to reline the box. After a warning, individuals who repeatedly commit this infraction may be ejected.

2020 NFHS Softball rule 3-6

ART. 17 . . . Team personnel shall not intentionally remove any lines of the batter’s box or on the field of play.

PENALTY: (Art. 17) A strike shall be called on the batter if a member of the offense intentionally removes the line and a ball awarded to the batter if a member of the defense intentionally erases a line. A team warning shall be issued, with the next offense resulting in a strike/ball, the offender and the head coach being restricted to the dugout.

[Mister B]

Call more inside strikes. 

[MadMax]

2 hours ago, Velho said:

Bottom of the 1st the leadoff hitter uses his foot to wipe out the front line of the batters box.

 

57 minutes ago, SH0102 said:

Interesting, usually they try to erase the back line.

In this case, it's done for a reason. That hitter, or the second hitter, is planning to do an "ambush bunt". At some point in the past, either it's happened to the team or the coach wherein the batter was called Out for being "out of the box". A whole-big hissy argument occurred, and there was pointing at footprints in the dirt, and where the chalk line is or was, and a bunch of other crap. 

@maven has a very valid point. 

There's been plenty of times that I've actually obliterated the lines myself because the "groundscrew" actually set the boxes so cockeyed, it's a distraction, or made them far smaller than can be actually, legally, safely used. Am I supposed to eject myself?

We don't need boxes. CDP purposely doesn't paint/chalk them because they don't want (to compel) umpires calling 12U batters out for being "out of the box". In the absence of boxes, if the batter isn't grossly and egregiously positioned, then just let it go.