3rd strike rule

Question
Hi Dr. Mark,

We just had our first game of the season (fast pitch girls u14)and there were quite a lot of dropped 3rd strikes.  I know that if there are less than 2 out and 1st base is unoccupied, then the girls may try to take first base.  My question is, for example, if the lead off batter strikes out and the ball rolls to the backstop and the runner makes it firstbase successfully, is 1 out recorded even though the runner gets to first or is there 0 outs and a runner at first.  It seems to me that there should be a recorded. So basically, if this happened to the first 2 batters in an inning, would there now be 2 outs with runners on 1st and 2nd?  

thanks for your time.
John

Answer
Hi John,

If the b-r safely attains 1st there is no out. You would have a runner on 1st and zero outs.  

The D3K rule does not apply w/ 1st base occupied and less than 2 outs so you couldn't have 1st and 2nd occupied under D3K in your scenario with the 1st 2 batters. B2 would not be allowed to advance on a dropped 3rd strike, they would simply be out.  R1 could advance at their own risk of course.

If R1 stole 2nd and there were less than 2 strikes on the batter, 1st base would now be unoccupied and if we THEN had a D3K on a following pitch you would have runners on 1st and 2nd w/ zero outs.

Mark