Ask the Ump!

BALL FOUR.

QUESTION: In high school, baseball and softball, runner on second , one out; with a full count on the batter, pitcher throws a pitch in the dirt which gets away from the catcher and becomes stuck in the backstop fence. In this ball four play, do the runner and the batter gain a two base award? Does runner only gain a two base award while batter is awarded first? Do both runner and batter only gain a one base award?
ANSWER: Batter is awarded first base due to walk while runner gains a one base award ( third) from time of pitch. Ball is dead when it becomes lodged in fence. (BB- Rule 8, Sec. 1, Art. 1,c & Rule 8-3-3,d) (SB- Rule 8-1-1,c & Rule 8-4-3,c). SB- when a pitched ball becomes blocked ( enters dead ball area), runner is awarded one base from time of pitch.
QUESTION: Can a team issue an intentional walk without throwing a pitch?
ANSWER: In (BB) only, the coach or catcher may request umpire to award batter first base before a pitch is thrown or anytime during count. Ball is dead.(BB- Rule 2, Sec. 4, Art. 3). ( SB Fast Pitch only- intentional walks are not issued per rule. Pitcher must throw four pitches outside strike zone during live ball play. ( Rule 2, Sec. 65).

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