Batter out for tossing the bat inadvertently
Question
I'm a scorekeeper for our Mustang League team, and we had a boy called out twice for flinging his bat (inadvertently) after getting a hit. One was a single, the other a triple, before he was called out by the umpire.
Is it a hit and then out? Is it a simple out? Or is it an out without an at-bat (for batting average purposes)?
Answer
Paul,
There really is no penalty in the rulebook for throwing a bat. However, if throwing the bat was in the umpire's judgement, hindering the ability of a fielder to make a play, then I would rule that it was an out on interference.
It would count as an at bat, but no hit. No runners would advance on the play.
Hope this helps!
Brian
batting fear
Tournament Bracketing