.......................................2000 NFHS Baseball Rules Interpretations

SITUATION 1: The batter steps into the batter’s box. The catcher tells the plate umpire that the bat is cracked. Upon examination, the bat is determined to indeed be cracked. RULING: The umpire shall instruct the batter to obtain another bat. (1-3-5, note1). 

SITUATION 2: The batter steps into the batter’s box. The catcher asks the plate umpire to check the bat. Upon examination, it is determined that the bat has been cracked, and that an attempt has been made to disguise the crack. RULING: The batter is declared out. (1-3-5, note 1).

 SITUATION 3: The batter hits a home run. The catcher picks up the bat and hands it to the plate umpire, claiming it is cracked. Upon examination, the bat is determined to be cracked. RULING: The home run counts. The bat shall be replaced and the batter’s coach informed. (1-3-5, note 1).

 SITUATION 4: F1, with R1 on second base, does a spin move on the pitcher’s plate toward second. The runner breaks for third base and the pitcher walks off the pitcher’s plate and runs toward R1. RULING: This is legal. (6-2-4). 

SITUATION 5: Team A has a courtesy runner on third base running for F1. F6, sliding into second base, twists his ankle and cannot continue to run. Team A’s coach wants to bring F1 back into run and then substitute the courtesy runner as a pinch runner for F6. RULING: The plate umpire will not allow this substitution to be made. Since the courtesy runner is still on base, he is not eligible to be replaced by the pitcher and become a pinch runner for the F6. The most recent batter not on base for Team A will be allowed to run for F6. (Speed-Up Rules, Courtesy Runner 3).

 SITUATION 6: With R1 on first base, the left-handed F1 steps onto the pitcher’s plate. He moves the leg of his pivot foot in the same manner as he would move the leg of the non-pivot foot in coming to the set position. He then quickly steps back off the pitcher’s plate and throws to first base in an attempt to pick off R1. RULING: This is a balk. (6-1-3).

 SITUATION 7: Team A has a courtesy runner on second base running for F1. As he slides into third base on a wild pitch, he twists his ankle and is not able to continue in the game. With no other substitutes available to pinch run, Team A’s coach wants to replace the injured courtesy runner with the courtesy runner who has run for the catcher. RULING: This is legal. (Speed-Up Rules, Courtesy Runner 3). 

SITUATION 8: F1, while on the pitcher’s plate, brings the fingers of his throwing hand to his mouth and licks his fingers. He then wipes them off and looks to F2 for a sign. RULING: This is a balk. Once F1 has intentionally engaged the pitcher’s plate, he must comply with the pitching regulations. Had he licked his fingers and then wiped them off before he touched the pitcher’s plate, he would not have committed a violation. (6-1-1). 

SITUATION 9: With the bases loaded and one out, B5 hits a ground ball to F4. F4’s throw to home pulls F2 off the plate. As F2 is preparing to throw to F3, R1 crosses the plate and maliciously collides with F2. RULING: The ball is declared dead immediately. Both R1 and B5 are out. No runs score. R2 and R3 return to their respective bases at the time of the pitch. R1 is ejected. (8-4-2b penalty, 3-3-1n penalty). 

SITUATION 10: With R1 on second base attempting to steal third, the left-handed B2 swings to protect R1. The plate umpire does not see the batter swing. The next pitch is a called strike, and the plate umpire announces the count as 1-1. The coach of the defensive team wants the count corrected to 0-2. RULING: Since a pitch has been taken on the disputed ball/strike call, the count is 1-1. (10-2-3i note). 

SITUATION 11: R1, on first base, is moving on the pitch. B2 hits to F6, who tries for the out at second base. F6 cleanly throws to first base, after which R1 pops up on the base and jostles F6, having no effect on the play. RULING: R1 committed an illegal slide when he did a pop-up slide into F6. Since he committed an illegal slide and made contact with F6 during a force-play situation, the ball is declared dead, and both R1 and B2 are declared out. (8-4-2b penalty, 2-32-2a).

 SITUATION 12: R1 attempts to steal second base. F2, seeing he has no chance to throw out R1, does not attempt a throw. F4, who is standing behind second base to cover in case of a throw, is contacted by R1, who slid over the bag and contacts F4. RULING: R1 committed an illegal slide when he slid past the back edge of the base. Because he contacted a player during an illegal slide, he is called out. (8-4-2b penalty, 2-32-2c).

 SITUATION 13: With R1 on third base, F1 steps onto the pitcher’s plate in the windup position with both hands at his side. He moves both arms to bring the hands together as R1 attempts to steal home. F1 stops as his hands come together, steps off the pitcher’s plate with his pivot foot and throws home for the out. RULING: This is a balk. R1 is awarded home. (6-1-2, 2-28-2). 

SITUATION 14: F1, with R1 at third base, is in the windup position. With his glove hand in front of his body, and his pitching hand at his side, F1 moves his non-pivot foot behind the pitching plate as he brings his pitching hand to his glove hand and delivers a pitch in a continuous motion. RULING: This is a legal pitching move. (6-1-2). 

SITUATION 15: F1, with both hands at his side in the windup position, is on the pitcher’s plate. He moves his glove hand to a position in front of his body and stops. He then moves his pitching hand to his glove hand, stops to regrip the baseball and then delivers a pitch. RULING: This is legal. (6-1-2, 2-28-2). 

SITUATION 16: The courtesy runner, running for F2, scores and sits down on the bench. F7, on the next play, twists his ankle and cannot continue in the game. With no other eligible substitutes available to pinch-run, the coach of the team at bat wants to substitute the courtesy runner as a pinch runner for F7. RULING: This is a legal substitution. (Speed-Up Rules, Courtesy Runner, exception). 

SITUATION 17: With R1 on second base, B2 hits a deep fly ball to center field. R1 leaves on the crack of the bat, touches third and is headed for home. R1, looking back at F8, bumps into F5 who is standing in the basepath. The ball is caught for the first out. R1 stops and retreats to third. F8 throws the ball back to a) second base or b) to F6 who then throws the ball to F1. RULING: a) R1 is out as he never retagged second base once the ball was touched on a caught fly. b) Obstruction would be called. R1 would be awarded home if he returned to touch second base. If he did not return to touch second base, he would be declared out. (8-3-2, 8-2-4, 2-22-1).

 SITUATION 18: B1 steps into the batter’s box with a bat that is 33 inches long and weighs 26 ounces. F2 asks the plate umpire to check the bat. RULING: B1 is declared out for the illegal bat. (7-4-1a, 1-3-5). 

SITUATION 19: With R1 on third base, R2 takes a lead off of first base and positions himself at the grass towards right center field. The coach of the defensive team complains to the base umpire that R2’s position is illegal. RULING: R2’s lead-off position is legal. (8-2)

 SITUATION 20: With R1 on third base, R2 takes a lead off of first base and positions himself at the grass behind first base down the right field line. F1 throws to F3 in an attempt to pick off B2. R2 runs down the right field foul line toward the outfield fence. RULING: While R2’s position is legal, he is declared out when he ran toward the outfield fence when a play was attempted. In running down the foul line, he was out of the baseline he had between his position at the time of the pick off and second base. (8-4-2a).