Free Substitution During an At Bat

Question
I have a question regarding a scenario that happened this weekend at our slow pitch year end tourney.

A player was up to bat and had swung and missed for a strike.  His team opted to pull him out of his at bat and replace him with another hitter, not already in the line-up (pinch hitter).

Once a person starts an at bat, is this allowed?

The Head Ump cited free substitution as the reasoning for allowing it, but it just doesn't seem right to me.

Sincerely,

Brad Gray
Slow Pitch Board of Directors

Answer
Thanks for the question!

In the ASA world, (and all other forms of ball I know of) this is allowed.  While it hardly (if ever, I've NEVER had this happen to me) happens, it is a legal form of subsitiution.  However the new batter must assume the count of the previous batter.

I hope this helps answer your question, if not please reply!