38 (e) That batter attempts to hit a third strike and is touched by the ball; (f) A fair ball touches said batter before touching a fielder; (g) After hitting or bunting a fair ball, while holding the bat, the bat hits the ball a second time in fair territory. The ball is dead, and no runner may advance. If the batter-runner drops the bat and the ball rolls against the bat in fair territory and, in the umpire’s judgment there was no intention to interfere with the course of the ball, the ball is alive and in play; (h) After hitting or bunting a foul ball, that runner intentionally deflects the course of the ball in any manner while running to first base. The ball is dead, and no runners may advance; (1) After hitting a fair ball, the batter-runner or first base is tagged before said batter- runner touches first base; (2) “O”Zone - After a third strike the batter-runner or first base is tagged before said batter-runner touches first base; (i) In running the last half of the distance from home base to first base, while the ball is being fielded to first base, the batter-runner runs outside (to the right of) the three- foot line, or inside (to the left of) the foul line, and in the umpire’s judgment in so doing interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base; except that the batter- runner may run outside (to the right of) the three-foot line or inside (to the left of) the foul line to avoid a fielder attempting to field a batted ball; (j) An infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive, with first, first and second, first and third, or first, second and third bases occupied before two are out. The ball is dead, and the runner or runners shall return to their original base or bases; APPROVED RULING: In this situation, the batter is not out if the infielder permits the ball to drop untouched to the ground, except when the Infield Fly rule applies. (k) A preceding runner shall, in the umpire’s judgment, intentionally interfere with a fielder who is attempting to catch a thrown ball or to throw a ball in an attempt to complete a play. 6.06 –A batter is out for illegal action when– (a) Hitting an illegally batted ball (See Rule 2:00–Definitions); (b) Stepping from one batter’s box to the other while the pitcher is in position ready to pitch; (c) Interfering with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base. EXCEPTION: Batter is not out if any runner attempting to advance is put out, or if runner trying to score is called out for batter’s interference. (d) “O”Zone Play - With a runner on 3rd base attempting to steal home with the pitch, THE BATTER MUST BUNT OR TAKE THE PITCH. If the batter swings, the ball will be dead with runners returning to their original bases, the batter will be called out, and the team manager will be EJECTED. NO WARNING will be given in this situation. Exception: No penalty will be assessed when the bases are loaded with two outs and a full count on the batter. 6.07 –BATTING OUT OF TURN (a) A batter shall be called out, on appeal, when failing to bat in proper turn, and an- other batter completes a time at bat in place of the proper batter. The proper batter may take position in the batter’s box at any time before the improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, and assume the proper batter’s balls and strikes.
