Expert: Tom Mielke - 6/3/2008

Question
The batter bunts for a hit and drops the bat in fair territory in a normal fashion while advancing to first base. The ball rolls into the bat. What is the call for girls softball? I say it is a fair ball since there was no ATTEMPT by the batter to impeded the progress of the ball. Am I right?

Answer
Steve,

Almost every rule in the book does not take intent or judgement of an attempt into consideration when the rule is applied.  The umpire just judges what happened.  What the player intended or attempted to do almost never matters.

In your situation it can be judged one of two ways by the umpire.  Either the ball hit the bat or the bat hit the ball.

In your situation the ball hit the bat, nothing.

If the bat, when dropped hits the ball or rolls into the ball after being dropped.  Dead ball batter out for interference.

You are right, but not because there wasn't an attempt by the batter to impede the progress of the ball.

Tom