Fair, Foul or Out

Question
We had a confusing play in a ASA fastpitch softball game that we want clarified.  

A player bunted a ball which rolled well in front of home plate and beyond the batters box along the 1st base line.  While the ball was rolling in fair territory along the 1st base line the bunter's bat rolled into the bat.  This contact kept the ball in fair territory.  The defense played the ball, but the runner beat the throw after this contact.  The runner beat the throw and was ruled safe at first.  When asked about the rule, the umpire said that this contact was not on purpose and that the bat was part of the field.  

Is a ball in fair territory that is touched by the hitter's bat a 2nd time truly a fair ball?  We have seen this ruled as a foul ball, as a dead-ball out and as as live ball.  What is the correct ruling?

With that in mind, what about a ball that make contact a second time with the hitter's bat while the batter is in the batter's box?  We believe this is a foul ball similar to ball hitting a batter in the box.  IS this correct?

Thanks.

Brian

Answer
Hi Brian,

Ok let's settle this "by the book".  By rule if the bat is out of the batter's hands (dropped or thrown) and it (the bat)hits the ball in fair territory it is a dead ball and the b-r is out.  

It's that simple!

the umpire said that this contact was not on purpose and that the bat was part of the field.  Doesn't matter (in this case) and a bat (in this case) is not part of the field.  It would be if the ball rolls against the bat, see below.

If the ball rolls against he bat in fair territory it is fair or foul depending on where the ball is first touched or stops.  If the ball rolls against the bat in foul territory it is a foul ball.

2) if the bat is in the hands of the batter when ball comes into contact with it (a 2nd time) and the batter is in the batter's box, it is a foul ball.

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