RULE 7 BATTING

            Section 1: Position and Batting Order

Article 1...Each player of the team at bat shall become the batter and shall take his position within a batter’s box on either side of home plate, in the order in which his name appears on the line-up card as delivered to the Head Umpire prior to the game.  This order shall be followed during the entire game except that an entering substitute shall take the replaced player’s place in the batting order.  A batter is in the proper order if he follows the player whose name precedes his in the line-up, even though such preceding batter may have batted out of order.  An improper batter is considered to be at bat as soon as he is in the batter’s box and the ball is alive.  When improper batter’s infraction is first discovered, time may be requested and improper batter replaced with proper batter with the improper batter’s ball and strike count still in effect, provided the infraction is detected before improper batter is put out, or scores a run.

Article 2...After the first inning, the first batter in each inning shall be the player whose name follows that of the last batter who completed his time at bat in the preceding inning.

PENALTY for Batting Out of Order (Art. 1 & 2):

[a] A batter shall be called out, on appeal, when he fails to bat in his proper turn and another batter completes a time at bat in his place; provided the appeal is made prior to the first pitch, legal or illegal, to the next batter;

[b] When an improper batter scores, is put out, or strikes out, and the defensive team appeals to the Head Umpire before the first pitch, legal or illegal, to the next batter; or before the fielders leave the field if a half-inning is ending, the umpire shall declare the proper batter out and nullify any score made by the improper batter.  NOTE: If the improper batter hits and is put out by a fielder, credit for a put out will remain in the defensive player’s record; likewise, if the improper batter strikes out, the pitcher’s record will reflect the strike out, as it would if there had been no batting out of order;

[c] When an improper batter scores or is put out or strikes out and a legal or illegal pitch has been delivered to the next batter or all fielders have left the field ending a half-inning before an appeal is made, the improper batter becomes the proper batter, and the results of his time at bat become legal;

[d] When the proper batter has been called out because he failed to bat in his proper turn, the next batter shall be the batter whose name follows that of the proper batter thus called out; unless an improper batter has been legalized by receiving a pitch, legal or illegal; or through failure of the defensive team to appeal prior to the end of a half-inning or prior to leaving the field;

[e] When an improper batter becomes a proper batter because no appeal is properly made as above, the next batter shall be the batter whose name follows that of such legalized improper batter.  The instant an improper batter’s actions are legalized, the batting order picks up with the name following that of the legalized improper batter.

NOTE: When several players bat out of order before the defense appeals, the only out that can occur is the last out of order batter, provided the batter now at the plate has not received a legal or illegal pitch; all previous out of order batters were legalized as soon as the following batter received a legal or illegal pitch.

            Section 2: Strikes, Balls and Hits

Article 1...A strike is charged to the Batter when:

[a] A pitch is swung at and missed (even if pitch touches batter); or

[b] A pitch becomes a foul ball or foul tip when the batter has less than three strikes; or

[c] A batter delays more than thirty (30) seconds in taking a position in a batter’s box on either side of home plate when the pitcher has the ball and the umpire declares “Play”; or

[d] A pitch is not swung at when the batter has taken one pass (ball); or

[e] Batter, pitcher, catcher, or other offensive team personnel charged with infraction for which the penalty is a strike to the batter.

Article 2...A ball is credited to the batter when a pitch is not swung at and the batter has a count of less than one pass (ball).  In some cases in these rules, the defensive team may be charged with an infraction that results in a no pitch or a “free pitch” to the batter, this is the equivalent of giving the batter more than four strikes and one pass.  Also, there are some cases in which an infraction by the pitcher results in a no pitch.  This may seem to be a reward or reprieve to the batter by giving him, in effect, an extra pitch; it is not meant to be so, since the no pitch call has precedence over a score and the batter must resume the plate to complete the turn with ball and strike count as it was prior to the no pitch.  If this procedure seems to be unfair to the defense in some cases, it is not intended but is the most reasonable alternative under particular circumstances.

Article 3...A Foul Hit or Fair Hit occurs when a pitch is touched by the bat of the batter who is in the batter’s box.

            Section 3: Batting Infractions

A Batter Shall Not:

Article 1...Delay the game by failing to take his position in the batter’s box on either side of home plate within 30 seconds.  PENALTY: For failure of batter to be ready within 30 seconds after the ball has been returned to the pitcher, the umpire shall call a strike.  If it is the fourth strike, the umpire shall call “Time” and declare the batter out.

NOTE: After entering the batter’s box, the batter leaves it at the risk of being charged with delay.  The batter may request “Time” if he desires to step out for a valid reason, and if granted, the 30-second count will be started anew when the ball is declared live.  The umpire may refuse to grant “Time” if the batter repeatedly causes delay or if his leaving the box appears to be an attempt to discomfit or discompose the defense or to gain some other advantage.

Article 2...Hit the ball fair or foul while either foot is touching Home Plate (Base).  PENALTY: Batter is out.

Article 3...Attempt to disconcert the defense by switching from one side of the plate to the other without requesting and being granted “Time” for this purpose.  Since the defense cannot see the batter, and the spotter may be prevented by the rules from alerting the defense to the fact that the batter has switched batting sides, this act constitutes unfair advantage and umpire will not allow it.  If a batter wishes to change from one side of the plate to the other he must ask for and receive “Time” before doing so.  PENALTY: For failure to request time for the purpose of switching batting sides or switching without permission from the umpire, umpire shall charge batter with strike.  If it is the fourth strike, umpire shall call “Time” and declare the batter out.

Article 4...If the bat breaks and contacts the ball a second time or hits the batter/runner or hits a fielder, no interference will be called.  If a whole bat is thrown and contacts the ball a second time in fair territory or interferes with a fielder attempting to make a play on the ball, interference will be called.  PENALTY: Batter out.

            Section 4: Batter Is Out As In Above or When:

[a] Batter enters batter’s box with an illegal bat or is discovered using an illegal bat after the umpire has issued one team warning.  If the infraction is discovered before the next pitch, legal or illegal, following the turn at bat of the player who used an illegal bat, the defense may take the penalty or the result of the play; or

[b] He accrues four strikes; or

[c] His fly hit (fair or foul) is caught by a fielder or such catch is prevented  by: a spectator, offensive team member (player or non-player), the batter/runner or umpire interference; or by any attempt at verbal or physical intimidation of the defense by any person present; or

[d] Batter attempts to bunt; or(Bunt rule repealed Summer 2004)

[e] When his/her fair hit ground ball is legally fielded by a defensive player; or

[f] As the result of a penalty.