Coach calling timeout and walking onto the field while ball is still live

[Side Retired]

High School ball tournament NFHS rules. Runners on first and third. Count and outs don't really matter, but it was 1-0 with no outs. The third base coach gave signals to his runners and batter. Then, he must have realized he gave the wrong signals because he made a sudden racket, saying whoa, whoa, whoa, timeout, as the pitcher was in motion to come home to the plate and the ball might even have already been released. As the coach is calling timeout, he actually walks out onto the field and all the play ceased. The batter stepped out of the box, the fielders all relaxed, and the runners all returned to their bases. The pitch came across the plate and the umpire called it a strike. Then, the umpire called timeout and then told the coach that the coach's timeout request had not been granted. The umpire called coach's interference and ruled a second strike, making the count 1-2.

The question is, if there's coach's interference, isn't the batter or runner supposed to be called out? And which runner, the one on second or the one on first? I figured it should be the lead runner. Someone else in the stands said it should have been the batter who was ruled out. 

Not that this matters but I believe the third base coach is a former professional minor league player, because he seemed to carry some gravitas with both teams and someone said he is always pulling stunts like this.

[Velho]

There is no rule to support for a second strike or anyone being out (and good on the plate for grabbing the strike)

Resume or not, this calls for a warning, dugout restriction, or immediate ejection.

[Coach Carl]

I'm travelling so I can't get the specific rule and language, but, in FED, the batter stepping out of the box is a penalty strike.

Batter steps out (penalty strike), ball stays live, pitch is a strike.  You have two strikes added to the count.

[Velho]

1 hour ago, Coach Carl said:

I'm travelling so I can't get the specific rule and language, but, in FED, the batter stepping out of the box is a penalty strike.

Batter steps out (penalty strike), ball stays live, pitch is a strike.  You have two strikes added to the count.

Correct and thank you for the correction. The rule text is below. [I forgot this rule because I've never heard of it actually  being called and, arguably, it's not the OP but you are right to bring it up]

Quote

 

6-2-4-d. failing to pitch to the batter in a continuous motion immediately after any movement of any part of the body such as the pitcher habitually uses in the delivery;

1. If the pitcher, with a runner on base, stops or hesitates in the delivery because the batter steps out of the box {a) with one foot or (b) with both feet or (c) holds up a hand to request "Time," it shall not be a balk. 

In (a) and (c), there is no penalty on either the batter or the pitcher. The umpire shall call "Time" and begin play anew. In (b), a strike shall be called on the batter for violation of 7-3-1. In (a), (b) and (c), if the pitcher legally delivers the ball, it shall be called a strike and the ball remains live.

Thus, two strikes are called on the batter in (b). If the umpire judges the batter's action to be a deliberate attempt to create a balk, the batter will be penalized according to 3-3-1 n

 

 

[Richvee]

Grabbing two strikes here is the crappy end of the stick, I think. Batter stepped out because his coached called for time. I'm all for not granting time, calling a strike on the pitch and warning the coach if he pulls that again he's going to be restricted. 

[eddieq]

2 hours ago, Richvee said:

Grabbing two strikes here is the crappy end of the stick, I think. Batter stepped out because his coached called for time. I'm all for not granting time, calling a strike on the pitch and warning the coach if he pulls that again he's going to be restricted. 

Crappy for the batter for sure, but that's on the coach.  If the coach wants to come and argue about it, it will be a short one and a long walk to the parking lot.

[MadMax]

12 hours ago, Side Retired said:

High School ball tournament NFHS rules. 

Ah, he’s one of those type-of-coaches. These ex-pros (and recently, too) who are part of, or form their own academy/travel-ball team. Occasionally, they’re control-freaks, and have their players (trying to) do(ing) all these complex things in situations so as to exert “pressure” on the opposing team. They count on having local umpires who either kowtow to their having been a pro, or are old (or “way too young”), and they can “outfox”. 

While I like @Velho’s and @Coach Carl’s interpretation and imposing a penalty reflective of the “crime”, I can also see @Richvee’s point. What if the pitch had been a ball? What if the pitch had hit the batter? With runners aboard, what if the pitch had been wild, and allowed the Runners to advance? The offense should, in no way, benefit from this shenanigan. So, with this being amateur baseball (< college), it’s best practice to call No-Pitch, with the penalty of a strike because the batter left the box during the pitch. 

Then, just lay into that “coach”. 

4 hours ago, eddieq said:

If the coach wants to come and argue about it,

I’m not going to let him even get that far. Whether I’m on PU or BU, I’m going to verbally chastise him, starting with he can’t just “call Time” (coaches request Time; Umpires grant / call Time), he can’t just walk in the field during Live ball, he can’t interrupt a pitch like that… need I keep going? I’m going to throw it all on him, right up front, and there won’t be any “wriggle room” for him to even argue anything. 
The only reason I wouldn’t outright dump him, is in that environment, he might be the only “coach”, and if dumped, his team likely forfeits; I wouldn’t want to affect his players so drastically due to his attempted antics. 

It’s bad enough when a coach makes a mistake and leaves his pitcher in longer than (limited) pitch/inning count, and we’ve got to forfeit the game. 

[Kevin_K]

8 hours ago, MadMax said:

The only reason I wouldn’t outright dump him, is in that environment, he might be the only “coach”, and if dumped, his team likely forfeits; I wouldn’t want to affect his players so drastically due to his attempted antics. 

It’s bad enough when a coach makes a mistake and leaves his pitcher in longer than (limited) pitch/inning count, and we’ve got to forfeit the game. 

NFHS allows you to put him on the bench Max!

If he is one of those ass hats who thinks his own rise to the show allows him to act like a two year old on a sugar high, the restriction will likely be far worse because he can no longer become the center of attention for all to see. Only the other rats in the dugout will be the beneficiaries of his antics. As an added bonus, the first time he tries to come out you get a a second opportunity to call him out as a tool by halting any further peacocking in public view