Catcher out of catcher's box

NFHS rules

Situation: before each pitch was releases the catcher was moving to the left handed batters box and definitely out of the catcher's box. She caught it at the front half of the plate a couple times.

What is the penalty on this? Is it a ball to the batter? Is it still declared a pitch and can runners run?

Really if one batter was a caster, this kid's wrist would be in a world of hurt.

Thanks,

Its an illegal pitch if the catcher leaves the catchers box prior to the release of the pitch. If the ball is being caught before the ball passes the plate it is catchers obstruction.

The catcher's box has no frontal boundary. It is only catcher obstruction if she hinders the batter's attempt to hit the pitch.
I see no penalty in the OP

If the catchers box has no front boundary, why is it described as a rectangular box, 10' from the rear of the batters boxes and 8' 5" wide? NFHS rules further describe this as the area to which the catchers feet are restricted from the time the pitchers steps onto the pitching plate until the release of the pitch.

tcannizzo said:

The catcher's box has no frontal boundary. It is only catcher obstruction if she hinders the batter's attempt to hit the pitch.
I see no penalty in the OP

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I believe that there is a front boundary with respect to this rule.

Maybe what you're thinking of is when the batter moves all the way up to the front of the batter's box when receiving a normal pitch. There is an interpretation that says the catcher may move forward, even past the front line of the catcher's box, to accomodate the batter's position. But that applies ONLY in this one case.

In my copy of the ASA Rule Book, the catcher's box is not described as a rectangle.

There are only three lines drawn that extend from the back lines and the outside lines of the batter's boxes. There is no fourth line; there is no "front line". Or if there is, it is undocumented.

The only restrictions are how far back and how far left and right. This is what I believe supports the interpretation quoted above; and what would support the notion that there is no frontal boundary.

So, can F2 position herself in a batter's box? I say yes, with the other modifiers specified by rule.

tcannizzo said:

In my copy of the ASA Rule Book, the catcher's box is not described as a rectangle.

There are only three lines drawn that extend from the back lines and the outside lines of the batter's boxes. There is no fourth line; there is no "front line". Or if there is, it is undocumented.

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How about the description given in 2.3.D?

If it is truly 10 feet "long", then how is it possible to have an interpretation that would be in direct contradiction of a rule?

IMO, this is a candidate for expert editorial review and perhaps the word "long" would be changed to "back" or "deep".
Or the diagram would actually show a fourth line.

A box is a 4 sided square or rectangle, as such a catchers "box" would have 4 sides. As for the discussion on the OP, it specifically stated NFHS rules. Bretman also listed the exception as allowed in ASA for when the batter is up in the front of the batters box. The catchers box does have a front boundary to it in ASA rules.

Comp said:

A box is a 4 sided square or rectangle, as such a catchers "box" would have 4 sides. As for the discussion on the OP, it specifically stated NFHS rules. Bretman also listed the exception as allowed in ASA for when the batter is up in the front of the batters box. The catchers box does have a front boundary to it in ASA rules.

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I'm surprised you are suggesting to apply logic to rule books when you know that that include such oxymorons as a rectangular pitcher's "plate" and foul lines and poles that are fair etc.