SCOREKEEPING: Squeeze/Suicide Play all Runners Safe
Question
High School Fastpitch - Less than two outs... Runner at 3rd. Suicide bunt to Fielder5 (3rd Baseman)throw to Fielder2 (Catcher). Runner3 "R3" scores and Batter-Runner reaches 1st base.
HOW DO YOU SCORE?
Do you give batter a Base hit? IMPROVES BATTING AVEREAGE
Do you give batter a Fielder's choice? DECREASES BATTING AVERAGE
Do you give batter a Sacrifice? NO AT BAT-NO CHANGE IN AVERAGE
Does it matter if R3 beat the throw home?
Does it matter if R3 was out but Catcher drops the ball?
The reason I need to know how to record it on the books is because I need to know if I should count the batter's plate appearance as an at bat or not which affects batting averages.
Should Batter get an AT-BAT?
Should Batter get a SAC and no AT-BAT for Batting Ave purpose?
Should Batter get an ERROR and no AT-BAT for Bat Ave purpose?
Answer
Javi,
To get to the answer of your question we have to ask did the batter do their job? Did they put the bunt down in such a manner that runner on third was able to score on the suicide?
The first scenario runner scores, batter safe. Score a sacrifice and RBI. The batter did their job and the defense could have thrown the batter out at first. This is really just a sacrifice with the runner on third where the defense tries for the lead runner.
If the runner is out at home then score a FC. If the runner is safe on an error, FC with the run scoring on the error.
Always give the benefit of the doubt to the batter when scoring.
Tom
Infield fly rule/call
ball landing on foul ball line