Batter HBP After Bounce - Softball

[Slippery Fish]

Situation: Batter is hit by a pitch that bounces before it hits him/her

I'm much more familiar with baseball rules, so looking for a little help on this one.

I umpire youth fast-pitch softball for an instructional rec league, and the league rules explicitly state that the batter can still get first base if the pitch bounces before it hits her. I occasionally get coaches or other umpires say that in "travel ball" they don't give the 1st base award.

Out of curiosity, are there any fast-pitch softball rulesets that don't award 1st base on a HBP if the pitch bounces first?

[GiantEngineer]

A pitch that bounces is still a live ball, so unless there is some local modification or the batter did something intentionally to get hit, they would still be eligible to take first base. I don't see how else a bounced ball wouldn't just be a regular pitch.
 

[The Man in Blue]

1 hour ago, Slippery Fish said:

Situation: Batter is hit by a pitch that bounces before it hits him/her

I'm much more familiar with baseball rules, so looking for a little help on this one.

I umpire youth fast-pitch softball for an instructional rec league, and the league rules explicitly state that the batter can still get first base if the pitch bounces before it hits her. I occasionally get coaches or other umpires say that in "travel ball" they don't give the 1st base award.

Out of curiosity, are there any fast-pitch softball rulesets that don't award 1st base on a HBP if the pitch bounces first?

 

Easy answer: NO!

It is quite the opposite ... ONLY local leagues will modify the actual rule set with house rules that may negate the HBP off a bounce.  Sounds like those coaches (and umpires) need to spend a little more time in the instructional rec league before venturing into actual travel ball.

If you are playing under any formally published rule set, a bounce only changes one thing: it can't be a called strike.  The batter can still hit it and it can still hit the batter.

Seriously, I am beginning to wonder if most coaches even know a rule book exists.

[The Man in Blue]

22 minutes ago, GiantEngineer said:

A pitch that bounces is still a live ball, so unless there is some local modification or the batter did something to get hit, they would still be eligible required to take first base. 
 

Sorry, that stuck out at me.

[beerguy55]

38 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

It is quite the opposite ... ONLY local leagues will modify the actual rule set with house rules that may negate the HBP off a bounce.  Sounds like those coaches (and umpires) need to spend a little more time in the instructional rec league before venturing into actual travel ball.

If you are playing under any formally published rule set, a bounce only changes one thing: it can't be a called strike.  The batter can still hit it and it can still hit the batter.

Seriously, I am beginning to wonder if most coaches even know a rule book exists.

This one I can at least understand why someone would believe this is the rule...or, if told this was the rule why they would not question it.  Of the many myths I've heard coaches, players and even umpires believe, this one is likely the least egregious.

[Vegas_Ump]

A pitch that bounces is still a pitch!  I can be offered at by the batter!

When I was a kid, the Yankees were playing the Senators in Griffith Stadium.  I saw Yogi Berra hit a pitch that bounced into the right field bleachers!  It sure counted!

So it's a pitch!  And if the batter gets hit by it, the HBP rules do apply!

Mike

Las Vegas

[Jimurray]

1 hour ago, Vegas_Ump said:

A pitch that bounces is still a pitch!  I can be offered at by the batter!

When I was a kid, the Yankees were playing the Senators in Griffith Stadium.  I saw Yogi Berra hit a pitch that bounced into the right field bleachers!  It sure counted!

So it's a pitch!  And if the batter gets hit by it, the HBP rules do apply!

Mike

Las Vegas

Ah, but what is a bounced pitch that is swung on and tipped?

[The Man in Blue]

I’m just trying to figure out why Yogi Berra was in the right field bleachers to hit the pitch that bounced there.    😉

[The Man in Blue]

4 hours ago, Jimurray said:

Ah, but what is a bounced pitch that is swung on and tipped?

[Lou B]

2 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

I’m just trying to figure out why Yogi Berra was in the right field bleachers to hit the pitch that bounced there.    😉

Don't know why but he was in left field when Bobby Thompson hit his famous home run!