Batter Thinks strike is 3rd strike and returns to the dugout

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Nov 19, 2013
8
0
This is just a theoretical question as we debated this at the fields one day.

USA Softball League, an familiar with rule 8-2-D (Batter runner out when entering team area when a fair ball is hit, hit by pitch, walk, catcher interference or drop third strike)

And I read through Rule 7 about batters and couldn't find anything specific.

If a girl thinks it is third strike, but really there is two...return to the dug out is she out? The closest I could come is the umpire could warn her or call a strike for failure to enter the box with in 10 seconds of being instructed too. But is there a firm rule here or is it the umpires choice (judgement). Explain why siting any USA softball rules applied.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Batter has not completed her at bat, bring her back out and complete it. She is still a batter, you will find no rule saying she is out for entering the dugout under the batter section of the rules.
 
Oct 3, 2011
3,478
113
Right Here For Now
Not an umpire but the rule you are referring to pertains to after a batter hits a ball in fair play, not if she swings and misses. If a Batter/Runner hits the ball into fair play and leaves the field of play, i.e. she thinks she's called out at first and goes into the dugout, then she's out per the rules even if she wasn't thrown out at first.
 
Mar 13, 2010
960
0
Columbus, Ohio
Exactly. A batter-runner, or a runner, can be out for abandoning the bases and entering the dugout. But you didn't have either of those here! You have a batter.

"Batter, that's only strike two. Get back in the box!".
 
Feb 28, 2015
307
28
Heatbox
We just had this happen in a local USSSA tourney. Girl had 1 strike on her. Next pitch was a strike. She thought it was strike 3 and walked back into the dugout. The coach told her to get back out there and the ump said it was too late, that she was already in the dugout. Nobody argued........
 
Sep 14, 2011
768
18
Glendale, AZ
Here is the one question I always ask back when this scenario is presented:

What if the batter decided she needed to use a different bat and had to go into the dugout to get it?
 
Feb 28, 2015
307
28
Heatbox
In our game the girl who walked back to the dugout thinking it was strike 3 was also the pitcher we were facing. She came up to bat after having about 6 runs scored on her the inning before. I would think for a bat change she would call timeout 1st and ask the ump.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Had this happen last year in a 10U A game. Batter was out for leaving field of play.

Then the umpire that made that ruling does not know the rules. The batter is not out for leaving the field of play. You will find no such rule in the rule book.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Here is the one question I always ask back when this scenario is presented:

What if the batter decided she needed to use a different bat and had to go into the dugout to get it?

Could that not be considered an offensive conference, and what if they already had one that inning?
 

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