Western Piedmont Baseball
Rule 7
Batting
Rule 7
Batting
• Player becomes batter when he steps into a batter's
box.
• Improper batter when out of order. Can be replaced
with proper batter (who assumes count) if
discovered before improper batter is put out or
reaches base.
• Only defense can appeal batting out of order after
batter has completed time at bat. Outs stand. Out
for batting out of order supersedes out made by
improper batter on play. Runners who advance due
to stolen base, balk, wild pitch or passed ball are
legal.
Rule 7
Batting
• Penalties for batting out of order: Batter who fails to
bat in proper order and another player completes
time at bat in his place is OUT ON APPEAL.
• When improper batter becomes runner or is put out
and defense appeals before next pitch (legal or
illegal) or play or attempted play or prior to an IBB or
before infielders cross the foul line, PROPER
BATTER IS OUT AND RUNNERS RETURN TO
BASES OCCUPIED AT TOP. If after any of the
above, improper batter becomes proper batter and
all results of at bat stand.
Rule 7
Batting
• When proper batter is called out for failing to bat in
order, next batter is batter whose name follows
proper batter.
• When improper batter becomes proper batter
because no appeal is made, the next batter is the
batter whose name follows the legalized improper
batter. When an improper batter's actions are
legalized, the batting order picks up with the name
following the legalized improper batter immediately.
• NOTE: When several players bat out of order and a
player's time at bat occurs while he is on base, he
remains on base and is NOT out as a batter. (Skip.)
Rule 7
Batting: Strikes, Balls, Hits
• A strike is charged to a batter when a pitch enters the
strike zone and is not struck at, a pitch is struck at and
missed (even if it touches batter), a pitch becomes a foul
hit when the batter has less than two strikes, a pitch
becomes a foul tip (even on third strike), a pitch
becomes a foul hit from an attempted bunt, a batter
delays or a batted ball contacts the batter in the batter's
box (foul ball).
• A ball is credited to the batter when a pitch is not touched
by the bat and is not a strike or when there is an illegal
pitch (6-1-4) or the pitcher delays (6-2-2c).
• A foul ball or a fair hit occurs when a pitch is touched by
the bat of batter in batter's box.
Rule 7
Batting Infractions
• A batter shall not delay the game by failing to take his
position in the batter's box within 20 seconds. Batter must
keep at least one foot in the box throughout the time at bat.
(Exceptions p. 43) Penalty: Strike is charged to batter. P
does not have to pitch. Ball remains live.
• A batter shall not hit the ball (foul or fair) while either foot or
knee is touching ground completely outside lines of batter's
box or touching home plate; disconcert P by stepping from
one batter's box to the other while P is ready to pitch.
Penalty: Ball is dead, batter is out.
• A batter shall not permit a pitched ball to touch him.
Penalty: Batter remains at bat unless pitch is strike three or
ball four.
Rule 7
Batting Infractions
• A batter shall not interfere with the catcher's fielding or
throwing by leaning over home plate, stepping out of the
batter's box, making any other movement , including followthrough interference, which hinders catcher's actions at
home plate or the catcher's attempt to make a play on a
runner, failing to make a reasonable effort to vacate area
when there is a throw to home plate. Penalty: With two
outs, the batter is out. With less than two outs and runner
advancing toward home and is tagged out, batter's action is
ignored and ball remains live. If not tagged out, runner is
out and ball is dead. With runner advancing to any other
base, unsuccessful attempt to put out runner results in
batter out and runner returns to base occupied at TOP. If
pitch is third strike and in umpire's judgment interference
prevents possible double play, two outs may be awarded.
Rule 7
Batting Infractions
• If the bat breaks and is hit by the ball or hits a runner or
fielder, no interference is called. If a whole bat is thrown and
interferes with a defensive player, interference is called.
Penalty: Batter is out and runners return. If interference
prevents double play in umpire's judgment, two outs may be
called.
• Commit backswing interference. Penalty: Ball is dead
immediately.
• Batter is out when he enters batter's box with an illegal bat or
is discovered having used an illegal bat. If discovered before
the next pitch, the defense may take out or result of play.
• Batter is out when a third strike is caught. If not caught, he is
also out if first base is occupied and there are less than two
outs. If first is not occupied or there are two outs, the batter
may attempt to reach first before being tagged or thrown out.
Rule 7
Batting Infractions
• Batter is out when a foul ball is caught by a fielder or such
catch is prevented by a spectator reaching into the playing
area.
• Batter is out when an attempt to bunt on third strike is foul.
• Batter is out when any member of the offense or a coach,
other than runner(s), interferes with a fielder who is
attempting to field a foul fly ball.
• Batter is out when a team playing with eight players and that
batter's turn is reached in the order.
• Batter is out when he enters the game as an illegal substitute
and is discovered.
• Batter is out when he intentionally deflects a foul ball which
has a chance of becoming fair.