drop/thrown bat

Question
ASA

If a batter drop, throw or let go of a bat and the bat hit the ball before the bat touch the ground.  Is the batter out?

I cant seem to find it in the ASA rule book unless I overlook it.

Answer
I found two rules in the ASA rule book that address this issue:

The first is that by definition (rule 1, the definitions)a batted ball is any pitched ball that hits the bat or is hit by the bat and lands either in fair or foul territory. The other rule says that a batter runner is out (rule 8, section 2, F5) by discarding the bat in a manner that prevents the defense from making a play on the ball.

Thus these rules suggest that the batter IS NOT out if she lets go of, drops, or throws the bat and it hits the ball before it touches the ground UNLESS the in the umpire's judgement the bat was discarded in such a manner that it impedes the defense from making a play on the ball.