uncaught third strike (runner)

Question
QUESTION: If there is an uncaught 3rd strike and the runner/batter starts to head back to the dugout without making an attempt at first, should the batter be considered out?  No tag, no throw to 1B.  I ask that because we had an issue arise when a lady was halfway back to the dugout, coach tells her to run, she doesn't even go back through home plate and we thinking that the play is over, on the fly and hurried make a horrid throwing error and she was considered safe.  

Rule book info in your answer would be greatly appreciated!



ANSWER: Hello Brandon,

Thank you for your question!  Uncaught third strike situations are common and can be messy.  The younger the players are, the further the batter/runner moves away from the batter's box before advancing to 1B, and the more offensive and defensive players that vacate the field during the play, the messier they are!  In your game, the correct call was made in calling this b/r safe.  After striking out she never did enter the team area, so she was entitled to continue to 1B after the verbal prompt by her coach.  Nor was she required to go back through home plate, retouch home plate, or re-enter the batter's box on her way to 1B.  

ASA 2010 rules reference: 8-2 BATTER-RUNNER IS OUT.  D.  When the b/r fails to advance to 1B and enters the team area after a dropped third strike.  Paraphrased by me.

NFHS 2010 rules reference: 8-2-4.  It states essentially the same information as ASA 8-2-D.

Scott Kelly



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So what about the rule that I heard stating that a runner is called out if not within 3 feet of the baseline?  If they haven't entered the team area, wouldn't they be 3 feet outside 1st base line when they attempted to take 1st without going through home plate on D3S?  Thanks for the time again.

Answer
Hi Brandon,

Thank you for your followup question.  A batter/runner or runner is permitted to advance from base to base choosing the route they please.  They are not required to stay on the actual baselines that are chalked between home and 1B (forget the 3' running lane for now, that's another matter) and between home and 3B, nor on the imaginary baselines between 1B and 2B and between 2B and 3B.  However, if a defensive player is holding the ball and is attempting to tag a batter/runner or runner, wherever the b/r or r happens to be at that very moment, the b/r or r can only move 3' max. to the left or 3' max. to the right in an attempt to avoid the tag.  If they do it is a live ball out, even if no tag is applied.  

Let's go back to your actual play.  Instead of a throw being made, if one of the fielders would have attempted to tag the b/r while she was over by the team area, right then and there she could only have moved 3' to the left or 3' to the right of the fielder in an attempt to avoid the tag.  She may have been 50' away from the baseline between home and 1B, but that baseline is irrelevant.  

ASA 2010 rules references:

rule 1 definition BASE LINE (the imaginary lines between bases)

rule 1 definition BASE PATH (the path between bases the runner is taking when a fielder is attempting to tag her)

rule 8-7-A  THE RUNNER IS OUT
When running to any base in regular or reverse order and the runner runs more than three feet from the base path to avoid being touched by the ball in the hand(s) of a fielder.

Scott Kelly