Umps, how would you deal with this?

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Aug 23, 2016
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Here's the situation. ASA/USA Softball rules. The batter has a 2-1 count. Next pitch, she swings and misses. Thinking it's the third strike, she runs to first. Catcher, reacting to batter-runner, overthrows first and ball lands in outfield. Runner makes it all the way around home due to various bad throws. As she crosses home, ump tells her that was strike two but she doesn't hear or doesn't understand what he's trying to tell her and she goes into the dugout. The next batter gets in the box.

Ump and scorekeeper (that's me) don't realize it's a different batter because both girls have the same helmet, are the same height and same build with similar hair that covers their number. Next two pitches are balls and ump sends the runner to first for a walk.

At that point, batter says the count is 2-0 and when I look at the on-deck batter I realize that the prior batter did not finish her at-bat and this is the next girl in the order.

Umps, how would you resolve this situation?
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
Here's the situation. ASA/USA Softball rules. The batter has a 2-1 count. Next pitch, she swings and misses. Thinking it's the third strike, she runs to first. Catcher, reacting to batter-runner, overthrows first and ball lands in outfield. Runner makes it all the way around home due to various bad throws. As she crosses home, ump tells her that was strike two but she doesn't hear or doesn't understand what he's trying to tell her and she goes into the dugout. The next batter gets in the box.

Ump and scorekeeper (that's me) don't realize it's a different batter because both girls have the same helmet, are the same height and same build with similar hair that covers their number. Next two pitches are balls and ump sends the runner to first for a walk.

At that point, batter says the count is 2-0 and when I look at the on-deck batter I realize that the prior batter did not finish her at-bat and this is the next girl in the order.

Umps, how would you resolve this situation?


Did the umpire inform the coach of the issue? Did the umpire give the count after the delay in play?
 
Last edited:
Aug 23, 2016
359
43
Did you inform the coach of the issue? Did give the count after the delay in play?
The coach realized at the same time I did, and let the ump know.

At that point ump called the first batter back, had her resume the count at 2-2, and said the two pitches that were thrown to the next batter were no pitches.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
You responded before I could edit my post. The the umpire inform the coach of the actual count in addition to the player?
 
Aug 23, 2016
359
43
You responded before I could edit my post. The the umpire inform the coach of the actual count in addition to the player?
When the runner broke for first, the ump told the coach it was only strike 2 and that the runner needed to return. He told the batter when she crossed home that it was only strike two. When the next batter went up no one realized right away that she wasn't the same girl.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
When the runner broke for first, the ump told the coach it was only strike 2 and that the runner needed to return. He told the batter when she crossed home that it was only strike two. When the next batter went up no one realized right away that she wasn't the same girl.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Then you have a possible BOO situation since it was the coach's responsibility to make sure the correct batter was in the box. However, since the defense did not catch it, there is no appeal which makes things that much more dicey. Considering the situation, I think the umpire did a good job handling it
 
Mar 1, 2016
195
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The umpire was being really nice. Seems like the original batter should have been ruled out because she went into the dugout, essentially abandoning her AB. The next batter would then have a 2-0 count.


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Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
I will have to search around, but I seem to remember seeing a case play or clarification somewhere about an incorrect batter coming to bat while there was still another active batter. Definitely a confusing situation not directly covered in the rules. The correct batter is not out for entering the dugout, there are rulings on that. A batter/runner who has completed their at bat and enters the dugout would be out, but you still have a batter, not a batter/runner. They should just be brought back out to complete the at bat, obviously that did not happen. I also do not see it as simply a no pitch situation, legal pitches have been thrown.

Again, not something directly covered in the rules and obviously falls under rule 10, the umpire can rule on anything not directly covered by rule. He made a call based on what he understood of the rules and that was his judgement..
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
They should just be brought back out to complete the at bat, obviously that did not happen. I also do not see it as simply a no pitch situation, legal pitches have been thrown.

I was thinking about that. The rules do cover a wrong batter at the plate discovered by the offense would just be a correction in the batter with the correct batter assuming the count. That would mean the correct batter would receive a walk. While that can be supported by rule, I'm not sure that would go over too well. :) And would it apply to what is now a BR?
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
I was thinking about that. The rules do cover a wrong batter at the plate discovered by the offense would just be a correction in the batter with the correct batter assuming the count. That would mean the correct batter would receive a walk. While that can be supported by rule, I'm not sure that would go over too well. :) And would it apply to what is now a BR?

Ive been thinking about it also, yes it would have resulted in a walk to the correct batter, who is now sitting in the dugout. Soooooo, do we have a walk to the proper batter, who is not declared out for having entered dead ball territory? No, not going to go over well, but the offense is the team that screwed up.
 

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