Dead ball??

Batter hits a line drive that bounced off the pitcher's arm. Ball was then fielded by SS, and thrown to 1B before the batter-runner touched the base. PU called "dead ball" after the ball hit the pitcher, and the batter-runner was awarded 1B.

I don't get the "dead ball" call, or the base award. I regularly see plays where the ball bounces off one player, and the play is completed by another. This play looked no different than countless ones I've seen before. The pitcher took a hard shot to her arm, but was okay, and continued to pitch the rest of the game.

The call was protested by the defending coach, but the PU's decision was upheld by the Tournament Director.

The only thing I can think of is the PU stopped the game in the interests of safety. Maybe he thought she took it to the mask or neck?

YOCOACH said:

The only thing I can think of is the PU stopped the game in the interests of safety. Maybe he thought she took it to the mask or neck?

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Maybe. The pitcher didn't have a big reaction that I saw that would have indicated a significant injury. The "dead ball" call was made very quickly, before the play was completed.

That doesn't seem fair at all. I know they will often stop a play if a player gets hit and is hurt, so the runners can't keep advancing while the coaches check on the hurt player. But this is penalizing the defending team for getting hurt. They got the out.

grcsftbll said:

That doesn't seem fair at all. I know they will often stop a play if a player gets hit and is hurt, so the runners can't keep advancing while the coaches check on the hurt player. But this is penalizing the defending team for getting hurt. They got the out.

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Agreed. Calling time after the play is completed to check on a potentially injured player is how I see it handled most of the time.

You don't say what level of play this is so I'm going to assume the PU was more concerned with the safety of the player and not the game. It shouldn't be a dead
ball but can see why PU did it. My DD has hit a lot of pitchers in her career. I taught her at 10U to just run to first and hold and we would worry about the pitcher.
Fortunately none were ever hurt too badly.

Eric F said:

Agreed. Calling time after the play is completed to check on a potentially injured player is how I see it handled most of the time.

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I've seen basically stopping play after everyone has advanced one base and the defense has the ball in hand but never before, although once I think on a direct shot to the pitchers face mask then immediate stop and everyone got one base

canyonjoe said:

You don't say what level of play this is so I'm going to assume the PU was more concerned with the safety of the player and not the game. It shouldn't be a dead
ball but can see why PU did it. My DD has hit a lot of pitchers in her career. I taught her at 10U to just run to first and hold and we would worry about the pitcher.
Fortunately none were ever hurt too badly.

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This was a 12U ASA All-Stars District Championship game. The only explanation that makes sense is that the PU was concerned with an injury issue.

Eric F said:

This was a 12U ASA All-Stars District Championship game. The only explanation that makes sense is that the PU was concerned with an injury issue.

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I was at this same game, and witnessed the same play (albeit from the other side of the field) and Eric and I were discussing this off-line, and that was what made sense to me as well. What I forgot to mention to Eric was that I overheard the PU discussing it with the District Commissioner that he immediately called dead ball when the ball hit her because he thought it really got her and he thought she needed immediate attention. He needed to make a split-second decision and he took his lumps and stuck with it, and the District Commissioner backed him.

Some of the other calls he made, however...

Had the same situation My dd was batting and Drilled the pitcher in the mask - Girl went down like she was shot. Ump calls dead ball, My daughter goes over to check on the girl out of concern - in the mean time the 2B pick up the ball and throws to first. Field Ump calls her out... Play stands. She says to the ump " But, You called dead ball" his only answer to her was you have to run to first.
We told her next time just Run out the play then help the pitcher, nothing you can do for her at that point any way.

By the way the pitcher was shaken and sat out but was ok for the rest of the tourney (Thanks Masks)