ball

Question
If a pitcher pitches a ball that hits the ground and then bounces up and hits the batter is the batter entitled to take a base?  I thought that once the ball hit the ground it was no longer in play.

I read the response you gave to Mark on 7/10/09 and I, like him are still not clear on the answer it seems that two rules do not make it clear.  So if you could expand just a bit I would appreciate it.  

Answer
Hi Donna,
"If a pitcher pitches a ball that hits the ground and then bounces up and hits the batter is the batter entitled to take a base?"  Yes as long as the batter attempted not to be hit, exactly like a pitch that does not hit the ground.

"I thought that once the ball hit the ground it was no longer in play."  No, No, No, not at all, I don't have any idea where you would get that.  This is a basic rule of FP softball.  A pitched ball that hits the ground continues to be a live ball.  If the ball is hit by the batter it is whatever it is, from a fly out, home run, ground out or double play (6-4-3 or whatever). Exactly like a pitch that didn't hit the ground.
 
If runners are stealing on the pitch, they can continue to advance and they are liable to be put out.
If the pitched ball goes out of play we award bases if we have runners....just like any pitch.  

The ONLY thing a pitched ball that hits the ground cannot be is a strike... unless the batter swings at it.

A pitched ball in the air is "live" until the exact mini-second it hits the batter, then it is a "dead ball"...... and we award the base.

A pitched ball that hits the ground is "live" until the exact mini-second it hits the batter, then it is a "dead ball"..... and we award the base.

This does not apply to SP softball

Mark