thrown ball hits bat left on field by batter

Question
In our ASA adult coed slowpitch league, this happened: with runners on 1st and 2nd, the batter got a hit. The runner on second tried to score, and the throw home skipped by the plate, hit the bat that had been left on the field by the batter, and bounced around. While the catcher was chasing it down, the other runner came home and the batter-baserunner advanced to second. After the play was over, the two umpires conferenced and decided to send them back (to third and first), saying that when the thrown ball hit the bat, it was a dead ball. Is that correct? I thought the dropped bat was part of the field at that point, since it was on the playing field. The ball stayed within the field of play at all times. Thanks.

Answer
Hi Martha,

That's not the correct call and protestable as a mis-application of the playing rules.

As long as it is the batter's bat it continues to be a live ball.

I think they were thinking it was a blocked ball BUT in order to have that it would have to be offensive equipment not involved in the game such as the on-deck batter's bat.  In such a case it would have been the right call.

2 answers in one because it's Friday.

Have a nice weekend

Mark