Sac Bunt Safe Question

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Jul 2, 2013
381
43
Last weekend we had a situation that I had to make a decision on scoring and wondered what the thoughts from the group were.

We had a runner on second and the coach called for a sac bunt. The batter lays down a great bunt down the third base line. Third base charges and gets there quickly but lets it roll hoping it would go foul. If she would have picked it up, she would have thrown the batter out by 15 feet. The ball settles on the chalk and we end up with runner on third and first, both safe. I scored it as a "Sac Bunt Safe" on fielder's choice in game changer since the intent was a sacrifice and she only reached because the fielder chose not to attempt.

Of course a couple of minutes later I had a parent asking why I scored it that way. I explained and they seemed to be OK with it but I wanted to see what you guys thought.
 
Aug 29, 2011
2,581
83
NorCal
I'm pretty sure that would be scored a base hit. At worst it would be ruled a sac-bunt fielders choice.

How do you give the 3B an error on a play that 9 out of 10 smart 3rd basemen will make most of the time if they think the ball is going to roll foul?
 
Jul 2, 2013
381
43
I'm pretty sure that would be scored a base hit. At worst it would be ruled a sac-bunt fielders choice.

How do you give the 3B an error on a play that 9 out of 10 smart 3rd basemen will make most of the time if they think the ball is going to roll foul?

Lou,

That's why I scored it the way I did. I was on the fence between a hit and fielders choice but thought that since the fielder chose not to attempt the throw, I should not score it as a hit.
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
I'm pretty sure that would be scored a base hit. At worst it would be ruled a sac-bunt fielders choice.

How do you give the 3B an error on a play that 9 out of 10 smart 3rd basemen will make most of the time if they think the ball is going to roll foul?

But it didn't role foul. It was a routine play that the 3B did not make. There is no requirement for the fielder to touch the ball (in order to be charged with an error).
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
But it didn't role foul. It was a routine play that the 3B did not make. There is no requirement for the fielder to touch the ball (in order to be charged with an error).

You are correct that no physical contact must be made for there to be an error. However, in this case, the batter reached safely because of the fielder's misjudgment. Wouldn't charge an error for mental mistake.
 
Aug 29, 2011
2,581
83
NorCal
You are correct that no physical contact must be made for there to be an error. However, in this case, the batter reached safely because of the fielder's misjudgment. Wouldn't charge an error for mental mistake.

I agree. This is were I was going. You just stated it better than I.
 

TMD

Feb 18, 2016
433
43
Given that fact that the 3B never handled the ball or attempted to make a play on any runner, I think it's a hit. Based on NCAA rule set:


14.2.11 Fielder’s Choice: Charge a batter-runner with a fielder’s choice when
a defender fields a ground ball and attempts to put out a preceding base
runner rather than the batter-runner at first base when a throw to first base
would have put out the batter-runner. Advance a base runner by a fielder’s
choice when she advances safely while another runner is played on.

14.2.28 Sacrifice: Credit given to a batter who, with fewer than two
outs, advances one or more base runners by bunting and is called out
at first base; would have been called out had no error occurred; or is
not called out because the defense plays on another base runner who
advances safely.

14.4 Base Hit Not Credited
A hit is not credited to the batter in the following situations:
14.4.1 When a batter advances one or more bases while a fielder who handles
a fair hit attempts to put out a preceding base runner.
 

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