https://www.vspdirect.com/softball/welcome?utm_source=softball&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=partners

 
SIGN IN:   Password     »Sign up

Message board   »Message Board home    »Sign-in or register to get started

Online now: 3 members: Cmart15, DJP18, TABLE SETTER 11; 186 anonymous
Change topic:

Discussion: Homerun - Hit and Sit

Posted Discussion
May 9, 2017
BH44
Men's 50
74 posts
Homerun - Hit and Sit
Hello Staff,

Wondering if you can answer a question for me. This past weekend in Indianapolis, we were told before each game that when you hit a homerun no need to to touch first you can just sit. Unfortunately for my team one of my players hit a homerun and then wandered down to first base and touch the base with his bat in his hand. The umpire saw it and called him out. I know the rule when you need to touch first base you can't touch with your bat in your hand but when you play hit and sit, isn't the play dead as soon as the ball leaves the park so this rule wouldn't apply? Just want to know for future and if it is in the rule book.

Thanks,
BH
May 9, 2017
lb16
Men's 60
196 posts
Incorrect call by umpire once ball has cleared fence player can run around bases with bat if he wants too.
May 9, 2017
SSUSA Staff
3490 posts
Wrong call on two counts • [1] "Hit and Sit" does NOT require touching 1st base (or any base for those on-base at the time of the HR) and [2] NO penalty in SSUSA Rules for carrying your bat with you ...
May 9, 2017
BH44
Men's 50
74 posts
Staff,

Batter touch first with bat in hand on his own which is why even thought it was hit & sit - umpire said he was out. Is there a rule in rule book that say you hit a single and run to first and touch first with the bat in your hand you are out?

Thanks,
BH
May 9, 2017
Mulewhipper
Men's 55
128 posts
BH44...there is no rule in Baseball or Softball that prohibits a batter to have the bat in his hand upon touching 1st base...urban legend.

May 9, 2017
txnighttrain
120 posts
There is a penalty in some softball organizations for carrying a bat and touching first while in possession of it, but not in SSUSA.
May 9, 2017
txnighttrain
120 posts
Many umpires work multiple softball organizations and thus are prone to rule errors. That is why SSUSA does not charge for protests.
May 9, 2017
txnighttrain
120 posts
Mule whipper in USSSA, batter is out if he has possession of bat when touching first bat if ball is live. So it is not an urban legend.
May 10, 2017
raiderman66
77 posts
Absolute total fact, when we were in Vegas a few years ago our guy hit a HR and brought his bat down to 1st and was called out. The rules may be stated but clearly the umps said otherwise. SSUSA should send a reminder to umps
May 10, 2017
SSUSA Staff
3490 posts
raiderman66 ... Bad ump call ... But if it happens again, please ask for a Director (and respectfully decline to continue to play while you wait) to come to the field ... That's a three second over-rule and it will go the way of the offense 100% of the time ...
May 10, 2017
Mulewhipper
Men's 55
128 posts
If it's a rule in any organization, it's a special rule put in for whatever silly reason.
It is not a standard baseball/softball rule.
May 10, 2017
DieselDan
Men's 75
602 posts
MLB has tried for years to speed up the game. Now that the pitchers can tell the HP ump they want to walk the batter, even after throwing some pitches, maybe they'll cut out the jogging after homeruns.
May 10, 2017
bond_171513
Men's 55
79 posts
Mulewhipper - From Section 4 of the 2017 USSSA rulebook:

Sec. 4.A BATTER-BASE RUNNER IS OUT under the following circumstances.

G.When, after hitting a fair ball, and while the ball is still live, the batter-runner carries the bat and touches first base or runs beyond first base while carrying the bat. Note: If this action results in the third out of an inning, no runs shall score.

Note that it does say "while the ball is still live" In a hit and sit situation, the ball is not live.
May 10, 2017
marcster13
102 posts
It is ridiculous to carry the bat to first base or down the line in any situation. It is unsafe to do so. On a side note it seems only the guys who don't hustle carry the bat down the line with them. Just Sayin.
May 10, 2017
Mulewhipper
Men's 55
128 posts
Bond...like I said, it's an additional rule added for some organizations (like USSSA), probably for safety concerns.

Not a baseball rule and not a SSUSA rule.





May 11, 2017
WI/COWBOY
2 posts
Thanks for clearing that up BH44 . My friend on Pope Transport 65 was watching our game wile in between innings of his game. He was trying to stick up for us . I have known him for 30 years.I was not AWARE of that rule ever. Shows what I know.. But he was telling or yelling at me to contest the call. Is the only reason I actually said or spoke loud show me in the SSUSA rule book. I know our player was down on himself . Heck could happen to anyone . But will never again.. Bet ya know who this is . Ha ha. See you in Milwaukee.
May 11, 2017
tscs000
Men's 60
33 posts
If you noticed, the umps were wearing green ISA shirts. In ISA, if you carry the bat to first base and touch first base, you are out. Even though this was a USSSA sponsored tourney.
May 11, 2017
SSUSA Staff
3490 posts
tscs000 ... A couple of quick items for the sake of accuracy ...

• The Brickyard Invitational is an SSUSA sanctioned/administered event, NOT U-Trip (USSSA) ...
• The SSUSA and ISA use the same umpire uniform shirts AND Rulebook, which is what it says on the front cover of the Rulebook ...
• The batter-runner should NOT have been called out for carrying the bat to 1B, or destinations beyond, under SSUSA/ISA rules ...

May 11, 2017
STL0
Men's 60
231 posts
Here's a twist on this one. In Tulsa this past weekend. I hit a ball that hit the outfielder's glove and went over the fence for a 4 base error. While I was in between 1st and 2nd, I asked the umpire if I had to touch all bases. I assumed yes because it was a tipped over the fence. The umpire said to sit and people from both teams were yelling both to touch them all and sit so there was a lot of confusion. I decided just to touch all bases since I believed that's what I had to do. I have two questions which are, 1) did the umpire make the correct call to "hit and sit" and 2) once the umpire tells me to "hit and sit" and I follow that call, can it be appealed and I'm called out if the rule is actually that I need to touch all bases?
May 11, 2017
SSUSA Staff
3490 posts
Bad call ... As to your 1st question:
From Rulebook page 47 ...

§8.4(7) • FOUR-BASE AWARD
Any fair ball touched by a player on either side of the fence that clears or has cleared the fence in fair territory before touching the ground will be a "four-base award," and will not be included in the total over-the-fence home run count. NOTE: The batter may return directly to the dugout and all other runners may return directly to the dugout. EFFECT: The concept known as “hit and sit” is permitted.

As to your 2nd question: Moot point if the umpire and/or the Tournament Director eventually get the rule right!


Sign-in to reply or add to a discussion or post your own message and start a new discussion. If you don't have a message board account, please register for a free nickname. It will only take a moment.
Senior Softball-USA
Email: info@SeniorSoftball.com
Phone: (916) 326-5303
Fax: (916) 326-5304
9823 Old Winery Place, Suite 12
Sacramento, CA 95827
Senior Softball-USA is dedicated to informing and uniting the Senior Softball Players of America and the World. Senior Softball-USA sanctions tournaments and championships, registers players, writes the rulebook, publishes Senior Softball-USA News, hosts international softball tours and promotes Senior Softball throughout the world. More than 1.5 million men and women over 40 play Senior Softball in the United States today. »SSUSA History  »Privacy policy

Follow us on Facebook

Partners