Ball lodged in catchers mask on strike three

[FarisJD]

Last night I was calling a JV game and with first base unoccupied the batter swung at strike three, a breaking ball outside and low to a righty, which preceded to ricochet off of the catcher’s glove and subsequently after contacting the glove got lodged under his mask. Frankly I thought it was in the dirt based off of sound cues so I signaled safe as any other dropped third strike. The batter didn’t attempt to first right away and eventually the catcher tagged him after realizing I didn’t rule it a caught third strike.
 

To be honest I don’t know if I made the right call here. Was this a catch and an out since it hit his glove first (like a foul tip would be ruled), an out regardless of glove contact, a dropped third strike and live, a dropped third strike with a penalty for a pitched ball lodged in equipment? I am lost. 

[SH0102]

22 minutes ago, FarisJD said:

Last night I was calling a JV game and with first base unoccupied the batter swung at strike three, a breaking ball outside and low to a righty, which preceded to ricochet off of the catcher’s glove and subsequently after contacting the glove got lodged under his mask. Frankly I thought it was in the dirt based off of sound cues so I signaled safe as any other dropped third strike. The batter didn’t attempt to first right away and eventually the catcher tagged him after realizing I didn’t rule it a caught third strike.
 

To be honest I don’t know if I made the right call here. Was this a catch and an out since it hit his glove first (like a foul tip would be ruled), an out regardless of glove contact, a dropped third strike and live, a dropped third strike with a penalty for a pitched ball lodged in equipment? I am lost. 

If you rule the ball is a dropped K3, then the batter is now a batter-runner, and as such, the ball is live and lodged, which is a dead ball.  So what was the status of the ball?  Pitcher/Thrown/Batted?  Since it is still a pitched ball, it is one base for all runners, which now includes the batter-runner.

Unusual play to say the least, but lodged = out of play = dead ball.  Getting lodged is the same as the swinging strike 3 in dirt ricocheting off catcher and going into the dugout, that would be a much "easier" award batter first base, but for all intents and purposes, it is the same thing.

[Senor Azul]

2020 NFHS rule 5-1 ART. 1 . . . Ball becomes dead immediately when:

g. a pitch or any other thrown ball:

4. lodges in an umpire’s, catcher’s or offensive player’s equipment or uniform; or

2020 NFHS rule 8-3 ART. 3 . . . Each runner is awarded: 

d. one base if a pitch or any throw by the pitcher from his pitching position on his plate goes into a stand or bench or over or through or lodges in a fence or backstop or touches a spectator or lodges in an umpire’s or catcher’s equipment;…

2019 NFHS Case Book Play 5.2.1 Situation B:  The third strike by B1 is missed by F2. The ball lodges between his body and protector. While F2 hunts for the ball, B1 continues to second. RULING:  The umpire shall call “Time” and give the dead-ball signal as soon as it is clear that the ball is trapped behind F2’s chest protector. B1 is entitled to first base only since he was en route there when the ball became dead. Had there been other base runners, they would have been awarded one base as well.

[Kevin_K]

3 hours ago, FarisJD said:

Last night I was calling a JV game and with first base unoccupied the batter swung at strike three, a breaking ball outside and low to a righty, which preceded to ricochet off of the catcher’s glove and subsequently after contacting the glove got lodged under his mask.

What do you mean when you say lodged under his mask? Where exactly was the ball? 

[Senor Azul]

One of the Points of Emphasis in the 2022 NFHS Baseball Rules Book is Umpiring Procedure for Lodged Ball. I do not have a copy otherwise I would post that text. Instead you might find the following professional interpretations to be helpful.

From the 2017 Jaksa/Roder manual (p. 35): 

Lodged ball:  Baseball that remains on the playing field but has become wedged, stuck, lost, unreachable, etc. If a ball impacts something, stops abruptly, and does not fall or roll immediately, it has lodged…

From the 2021 Minor League Baseball Umpire Manual (section 5.17, p. 56:

A ball is considered lodged if, in the judgment of the umpire, the natural trajectory of the flight of the ball is interrupted long enough to affect further play… 

[Replacematt]

10 hours ago, FarisJD said:

Last night I was calling a JV game and with first base unoccupied the batter swung at strike three, a breaking ball outside and low to a righty, which preceded to ricochet off of the catcher’s glove and subsequently after contacting the glove got lodged under his mask. Frankly I thought it was in the dirt based off of sound cues so I signaled safe as any other dropped third strike. The batter didn’t attempt to first right away and eventually the catcher tagged him after realizing I didn’t rule it a caught third strike.
 

To be honest I don’t know if I made the right call here. Was this a catch and an out since it hit his glove first (like a foul tip would be ruled), an out regardless of glove contact, a dropped third strike and live, a dropped third strike with a penalty for a pitched ball lodged in equipment? I am lost. 

The other thing you'll want to think about this is the definition of catch. This did not meet that definition. Thus, it is now lodged.