Pitch hits ground before hitting batter

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Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
OK, so this is one of those where I know the rule. I've always known the rule. I can't find anything to suggest I don't know the rule.

And yet both umpires agreed today and now I'm doubting myself and wondering if this is a baseball/softball difference.

A pitch hits the ground before hitting the batter in the foot. That's a hit by pitch in every rule set, right? Nothing goofy happened. The umpires literally said "If it bounces first it's not a hit by pitch."

I guess it's just a ball. I think they called dead ball, but they let the base runners advance.

The base umpire apparently had the plate in a JV game of ours a couple weeks ago (I was not there) and he made the same ruling then. There was also a hit by pitch where the batter swung and he gave her the HBP because "it depends where it hits her."
 
Feb 18, 2014
348
28
The hit buy pitch rule says nothing about the ball hitting the ground.



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marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
A pitch hits the ground before hitting the batter in the foot. That's a hit by pitch in every rule set, right? Nothing goofy happened. The umpires literally said "If it bounces first it's not a hit by pitch."

Yes, if it hits the ground it is a still a Hit By Pitch. It is irrelevant if it bounces. It can roll into the player and still be a HBP if meets all the criteria for a HBP (of which bouncing isn't one of them)

All rule sets.

No exceptions.


The base umpire apparently had the plate in a JV game of ours a couple weeks ago (I was not there) and he made the same ruling then. There was also a hit by pitch where the batter swung and he gave her the HBP because "it depends where it hits her."

Ok, this umpire is just giving umpires a bad name. That is terrible. He needs to stop.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
Thank you both. I am filing a written report about these guys for this one (the downside is the plate umpire is also our assignor, so gonna be tricky dealing with him going forward).

Edit: By the way, in the same inning, he also blew a call at the plate where the catcher dropped the ball when applying the tag to a sliding runner. Still called her out because of "contact." That play also had obstruction from the catcher, but that's more of a judgment call scenario. I was much more concerned with the fact the catcher didn't actually have the ball.
 
Apr 17, 2012
806
18
Wi
In USA rules the batter must make an attempt to avoid being hit. If she doesn't it is a ball and she stays in the box to continue her at bat

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Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
This is NFHS, and the batter did try to move (though I'm not sure how one is supposed to know where a ball is going to bounce). But that's all irrelevant anyway since the umpires said the issue was the ball bouncing before hitting her. They never said anything about her not making an attempt to move. I was ready for that one.
 
Feb 18, 2014
348
28
Here's your NFHS rule. 8.1.4.c


c. (F.P.) a pitched ball (not entirely in the batter's box) not swung at nor called a strike touches any part of the batter's person or clothing. It does not matter if the ball strikes the ground before hitting the batter. The batter's hands are not to be considered part of the bat. If no attempt is made to avoid being hit, the batter will not be awarded first base unless it is ball four.

However, the preceding rule 8.1.4.b does not clarify the bounce question.

b. (F.P.) a pitched ball is entirely within the batter’s box and it strikes the batter or her clothing. No attempt to avoid being hit by the pitch is required. However, the batter may not obviously try to get hit by the pitch.


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Last edited:
Apr 26, 2015
704
43
Dd’s team had this exact call a couple weekends ago. The batter got hit hard by a ball that hit the dirt first and the ump said she couldn’t take a base because the ball hit the ground before hitting her. So frustrating!
 
Mar 20, 2014
918
28
Northwest
I hate it - but that is the rule in softball. The fact that the umpires called it anything different means that they don't know the rules. So frustrating!
 
Dec 10, 2015
845
63
Chautauqua County
speaking of balls hitting the dirt first, if a batter swings at a ball in the dirt and it's the third strike, is the D3K rule still in effect? AC says it is and batter-runner could have gone to an open 1B as catcher did not make the catch. I thought I had read that ball in dirt nullifies the rule and it is an out.
 

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