- Jun 1, 2015
- 501
- 43
This actually happened in a little league baseball game that I umpired tonight, but I'm not sure the rule clarified this enough for me from the LL Baseball rule book, so I was hoping some knowledgeable softball umps could help me out. (I don't know any baseball umpires enough personally, and I believe the rule is very similar).
No runners on base, no outs, 1st batter of the inning. Batter steps across the box (after a regular stance fully within the box) to swing at a pitch, and makes contact with the ball. At the moment he makes contact, his right foot is fully within the box (right-handed hitter), but his LEFT foot has its toes on the dirt outside the box and its heel in air outside the box as well (not over where the line would be). He hit safely and made it to first base.
By the LL rule book: "6.06(a) A batter is out for illegal action when … hitting the ball with one or both feet on the ground entirely outside the batter’s box." It doesn't specify HOW MUCH of the foot has to be on the ground outside. I called time, stated: "Batter's foot outside the box when contact was made. Batter is out." Was this the correct call?
No runners on base, no outs, 1st batter of the inning. Batter steps across the box (after a regular stance fully within the box) to swing at a pitch, and makes contact with the ball. At the moment he makes contact, his right foot is fully within the box (right-handed hitter), but his LEFT foot has its toes on the dirt outside the box and its heel in air outside the box as well (not over where the line would be). He hit safely and made it to first base.
By the LL rule book: "6.06(a) A batter is out for illegal action when … hitting the ball with one or both feet on the ground entirely outside the batter’s box." It doesn't specify HOW MUCH of the foot has to be on the ground outside. I called time, stated: "Batter's foot outside the box when contact was made. Batter is out." Was this the correct call?