How do you score it?

Runner on 1st, 1 out, batter up to bat. Coach gives hit and run signal. Teams hit and run means you MUST swing the bat no matter where the ball comes across, as runner is going on the pitch no matter what.

First pitch, outside, 4 inches off plate and at the ankles, batter swings. Strike. Base runner advances safely to second.

Batter progresses throught next two pitches - one hit hard foul, 1 ball. Coach again gives player the hit and run signal. Next pitch comes across 3 inches off the plate, in the dirt before the plate. Batter swings with no hope of making contact. Catcher caught by surprise, misses ball, base runner advance to third as batter pauses to give runner time to progress, takes off for first. Thrown out by catcher.

I have three different opinions on this:

2 say: Sacrifice. In calling a hit and run, with the swing no matter what stipulation, coach's intent was to sac player to benefit the base runner. Given player advanced safely to third, which was intention, based on swing and the forced throw out.

1 says: No at bat, as bat was completely taken out of players hands, not allowing her to allow the ball to be a ball, to her advantage.


I disagree with the last opinion, in that the bunt signal also takes the bat out of a batter's hands, so to speak and so does a no swing. Since the purpose of a hit and run is, normally, to avoid a double play by advancing the base runner to break up the double play, this was accomplished. Once the runner advanced to two, to signal the hit and run again with two strikes on the batter and the pitcher throwing a ball every other pitch would seem to indicate a sac, as batter's actions, knowing she would be sacrificing herself to advance the base runner, was the intent and what occurred when she swung, as directed, at an unhittable pitch.

Opinions?

 

With 1 out and runner already in scoring position, let the batter swing away on her own. No need to advance to 3rd and give up a 2nd out, runner is already in scoring position.

 

Pitcher records a strike out and the catcher and first baseman team up for the put out and assist.

 

Sacrifice

I am no score keeper (and don't want to be) but I would give her the sacrifice since the coaches intent was clear.

Whether or not the coach should have called that with one out, two strikes (1 ball if I followed the pitches correctly), and a runner on second is a different discussion. I don't know what he/she was thinking. Maybe he/she had been watching the pitchers tendencies and thought the pitcher was going to throw a strike or maybe the batter is a great contact hitter that the coach has a lot of confidence in to put it in play. Also with most coaches, what they do on the base paths has a lot to do with the score and who is coming up to bat next.

 

Pitcher throwing low, off plate, and in dirt quite a bit. Player at bat, batter #3 in line up - power hitter and great contact hitter. Coming up, batter #4, contact hitter. Score 0-0, 1st inning. We DID score off the actions of batter 3, when batter 4 reached on error allowing baserunner to score.

 

this is not a sacrifice. It doesnt matter where the pitch ended up. The batter was instructed to swing away. If the pitch was waist high she might have ripped it. For a sac to be scored the INTENT must have been to give up an at bat in exchange for moving the baserunner. No such intent was present in this scenario.

I dont understand calling a hit and run with a runner on third... squeeze yes

 

Agree

If she had swung and missed at a pitch that did not go in dirt, runner could not have moved up! Also, the same occurs in a bunt sac situation where she misses even if gets past catcher! Player moved up due to wild pitch or past ball not the wild swing by batter! Batter did not give herself, coach needs some training, 2 strikes and 1 ball and he calls hit and run with runner on second? WOW!!! Wierd occurrence to say the least.

 

Sacrifice!
The runner did advance, the batter was forced to sacrifice her at bat to do so.
Smart play? UUUUUhhh No! I know your #3 and #4 batter. Why would he take the bat out of thier hands. Never mind, I know your coach too.

 

It Is What It Is

A Big Ole K No Matter How Much You Dislike The Coach's Call.

 

Best answer.