SAOA Softball - Running lane & thrown bat

1. Running Lane Rule 2 – The Playing Field A line drawn in foul territory parallel to and 3’ from the first base line. Starts halfway from home plate and goes to the back edge of first base. Purpose of lane generally understood.

2. Running Lane Rule 8, Sec. 2, E Batter-Runner is Out When the batter-runner runs outside the three-foot lane and, in the umpire’s judgment, interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base. Out side is generally defined as one foot completely outside the line

3. Running Lane However, the batter-runner may run outside the three-foot lane to avoid a fielder attempting to field a batted ball. This is generally done to avoid causing interference

4. Running Lane When the defensive player uses the foul portion of the double base, the batter-runner can run in fair territory when the throw is coming from the foul side of first base. And if hit by the thrown ball, it is not interference. If intentional interference is ruled, the runner is out.

5. Thrown Bat Rules Supplement 24 B. If the bat is out of the batter’s hands, dropped or thrown, and it hits the ball a second time in fair territory, the ball is dead and the batter-runner is out.

6. Thrown Bat However, if the BALL hits the bat on the GROUND, the batter is notout and the umpire must determine whether the ball is fair or foul. If the ball stops or is touched in fair territory, it’s fair. If the ball stops or is touched in foul territory, it’s foul. Treat the bat like a piece of dirt.

7. Thrown Bat If the bat is in foul territory and the ball hits it, it’s a foul. This is treated like a object that causes the ball to become foul.

8. Thrown Bat Rules Supplement 33 B. Batter Interference: Interference could also occur when a batter releases the bat in a manner that it hitsthe catcher and prevents them from making a play. If the batter merely drops the bat and the catcher trips over it, there is no interference.

9. Throwing or Carrying a Bat When a batter throws the bat intentionally in anger, the player should be ejected. (Bye, bye) Should the bat slip from the batter’s hands, there is no penalty unless the discarded bat prevents the defense from making a play on the ball, then interference should be ruled.

10. Throwing or Carrying a Bat There is no penalty when a player carries a bat to first base or any other base. (If they want to carry an anchor, so be it.) Should the player use the bat to prevent a defensive player from making a play, then interference should be ruled.