RULE 5 DEAD BALL-SUSPENSION OF PLAY

            Section 1: Dead Ball

Article 1...Ball becomes Dead immediately when:

[a] a batted ball touches the pitcher or any part of his clothing.  If the pitcher makes no effort to avoid being touched by a batted ball umpire may declare batter out, if the umpire determines that the pitcher could not have avoided contact or could not have reacted in time to avoid being touched by the batted ball, he may declare a “no pitch” and batter will resume with ball and strike count as it was before the “no pitch”.  If the umpire determines that the pitcher deliberately initiated contact with the batted ball in an effort to cause a call of no pitch, the batter may be declared out; for a repeated occurrence, the pitcher may be ejected; or

[b] The ball is illegally batted or is struck a second time with the bat, or the batter enters the box with an illegal bat (for first occurrence of illegal bat, umpire will issue a team warning, the next occurrence will be an out); or

[c] Any batted ball, while on or over foul ground touches any object other than the ground or any person other than a fielder; or goes directly from the bat to the catcher’s protector, mask, or person without first touching catcher’s glove or hand; or becomes an uncaught foul; or

[d] There is interference by a retired or previous runner; or by any non-fielding person or player; or

[e] a batted ball which is on or over fair ground touches an umpire or other field official, or a spotter, before touching any fielder and before passing any fielder or before passing the forty-foot line; or touches a spectator; or goes over, through, or wedges in a field fence; or

[f] when a pitched or batted ball is intentionally touched by a batter, or non-playing team member of either team; or goes into a stand or player’s bench; or lodges in an umpire’s equipment or clothing, or a player’s clothing; or

[g] The umpire handles a live ball or calls “Time” for inspecting the ball or for any other reason, including items in Section 2.  (If an umpire is hit by a fair ball it is umpire interference, no-pitch); or

[h] A fielder, in the act of fielding or catching a fair or foul ball (including a grounder or fly ball), leaves the field of play by stepping with both feet or by falling into a bench, stand, dugout, bleacher, or over any boundary or barrier such as a fence, rope, chalk line, or a pre-game determined imaginary boundary line; or

[i] An illegal pitch is committed.

Article 2...Ball becomes dead at time of infraction if infraction is not ignored when:

[a] There is interference by a runner; or obstruction by a fielder; or

[b] Any fielder obstructs a batter; or obstructs the ball through use of detached player equipment; or

[c] Umpire or other field official interferes with runner, or fielder; or

[d] Any personnel connected with the defensive team calls “Time” or uses any other command or commits any act for the purpose of trying to distract or disconcert the batter or disrupt the pitcher; or

[e] Any personnel connected with the offensive team calls “Time” or uses any other command or commits any act for the purpose of trying to confuse or disorient any fielder attempting to field the ball.

Article 3...Ball becomes dead when time is taken to make an award after interference, obstruction, or delay.

Article 4...After dead ball, the ball becomes live when it is held by the pitcher in legal position on the pitching mark and the umpire calls “Play” and/or gives hand signal to the pitcher.

            Section 2: Suspension of Play

Article 1...”TIME” shall be called by the umpire and play suspended when:

[a] The ball becomes dead; or

[b] The umpire considers the weather, ground, or lighting conditions unfit for play (NOTE: after 30 minute delay, umpire may declare game ended); or
[c] A player, coach, bench personnel, or spectator is ordered from the grounds or player is ordered to secure protective equipment; or repair or replace defective equipment; or

[d] An umpire or player is incapacitated, except that if injury occurs during a live ball, time will not be called until play is over; or

[e] A player or coach requests time and it is granted by the umpire for substitution, conference, or similar cause; or

[f] He suspends play for any other reason including awards following infractions, inspection of the ball, ending the half-inning; or due to outside disturbances which may make it difficult to hear the activated base or the ball (i.e. loud cars, trucks, buses, planes, music, too much noise from the bench, stands, or other cause).

[NOTE: The Head Umpire or Field official are the only persons with authority to call “Time” and suspend play.  Any other person desiring “Time” should request it from an official and wait until the Umpire has granted the request before assuming that play has been halted and a “Dead Ball” situation exists.]

Article 2...When the ball becomes dead, no game action can occur, unless ball is dead for awards or penalties.