Softball scoring question

[GoTeamGo]

I have experience umpiring softball (slow pitch) and have covered the game as a sports reporter for years, but I came across something tonight I haven't seen. At stake is the difference between a no-hitter and a one-hitter. I have looked at rule books online and I cannot find it anywhere. Perhaps someone knows the answer or knows exactly where to look.

There are two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. A runner is on first base.

The batter hits a grounder to the right side. The first baseman is positioned in front of the base line and the base runner. The ball passes the first baseman without being touched and hits the runner headed to second base. A dead ball was called.

In my experience this means the runner IS NOT out because the ball passed a defensive player before it hit her. The rule the umpire and the coach of the defensive team mentioned, however, was that it is not an automatic out unless the ball has pass ALL of the defensive players in the area.

Then the umpire ruled that he did not think the second baseman had a chance to get to the ball. Only then did he award the runner second base and the batter first base.

So my question is this: Does the batter get credit for a hit?

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

always thought that was an out on runner interference, with a hit awarded to batter

 

[I Digress]

If you're hit by a batted ball, you're out.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Rule 7.09 to 7.10
72
(k) A fair ball touches him on fair territory before touching a fielder. If a fair ball goes through, or by, an infielder, and touches a runner immediately back of him, or touches the runner after having been deflected by a fielder, the umpire shall not declare the runner out for being touched by a batted ball. In making such decision the umpire must be convinced that the ball passed through, or by, the fielder, and that no other infielder had the chance to make a play on the ball. If, in the judgment of the umpire, the runner deliberately and intentionally kicks such a batted ball on which the infielder has missed a play, then the runner shall be called out for interference.
PENALTY FOR

Umpires made the right call.

 

[Ace]

So if the ump made the right call, it's ruled a hit and the runners should be on first and second?

 

[micropolitan guy]

I believe so, yes. Ball is dead, everyone is awarded the next base.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

Rule 7.09 to 7.10
72
(k) A fair ball touches him on fair territory before touching a fielder. If a fair ball goes through, or by, an infielder, and touches a runner immediately back of him, or touches the runner after having been deflected by a fielder, the umpire shall not declare the runner out for being touched by a batted ball. In making such decision the umpire must be convinced that the ball passed through, or by, the fielder, and that no other infielder had the chance to make a play on the ball. If, in the judgment of the umpire, the runner deliberately and intentionally kicks such a batted ball on which the infielder has missed a play, then the runner shall be called out for interference.
PENALTY FOR

Umpires made the right call.

Wow. So, a run can score because this doofus deflected the ball and kept it from getting to the outfielder as a person was trucking toward third?

Pathetic.

Should be a blanket rule.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

I believe so, yes. Ball is dead, everyone is awarded the next base.

I didn't see "dead ball" in that official rules interpretation above.

 

[Some Guy]

Rule 7.09 to 7.10
72
(k) A fair ball touches him on fair territory before touching a fielder. If a fair ball goes through, or by, an infielder, and touches a runner immediately back of him, or touches the runner after having been deflected by a fielder, the umpire shall not declare the runner out for being touched by a batted ball. In making such decision the umpire must be convinced that the ball passed through, or by, the fielder, and that no other infielder had the chance to make a play on the ball. If, in the judgment of the umpire, the runner deliberately and intentionally kicks such a batted ball on which the infielder has missed a play, then the runner shall be called out for interference.
PENALTY FOR

Umpires made the right call.

Wow. So, a run can score because this doofus deflected the ball and kept it from getting to the outfielder as a person was trucking toward third?

Pathetic.

Should be a blanket rule.

From what I understand from that rule, this is only true if the ball gets by all the infielders before hitting a baserunner ... in which case, had the runner not been there, it would have gone into the outfield and been a hit anyway. Seems fair enough to me.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

Rule 7.09 to 7.10
72
(k) A fair ball touches him on fair territory before touching a fielder. If a fair ball goes through, or by, an infielder, and touches a runner immediately back of him, or touches the runner after having been deflected by a fielder, the umpire shall not declare the runner out for being touched by a batted ball. In making such decision the umpire must be convinced that the ball passed through, or by, the fielder, and that no other infielder had the chance to make a play on the ball. If, in the judgment of the umpire, the runner deliberately and intentionally kicks such a batted ball on which the infielder has missed a play, then the runner shall be called out for interference.
PENALTY FOR

Umpires made the right call.

Wow. So, a run can score because this doofus deflected the ball and kept it from getting to the outfielder as a person was trucking toward third?

Pathetic.

Should be a blanket rule.

From what I understand from that rule, this is only true if the ball gets by all the infielders before hitting a baserunner ... in which case, had the runner not been there, it would have gone into the outfield and been a hit anyway. Seems fair enough to me.

Person on second, a clean hit can get an out at the plate.

Not a deflected ball.

 

[GoTeamGo]

Thanks guys for your help. Micropolitan Guy, where did you find that? The only thing I found last night that mirrored the situation I described was in the NCAA softball scoring decisions material. I did not find what you found.

 

[micropolitan guy]

It's from the MLB rulebook. Maybe that's different than NCAA softball (it might be, softball has a lot of stupid rules, like re-entry).

And upon m,ore inspection, the umpires only got it half-right. The runner was safe and the ball was live.

(Rule 5.09(f) Comment: If a fair ball touches an umpire working in the infield after it has bounded past, or over, the pitcher, it is a dead ball. If a batted ball is deflected by a fielder in fair territory and hits a runner or an umpire while still in flight and then caught by an infielder it shall not be a catch, but the ball shall remain in play.
If a fair ball goes through, or by, an infielder, and touches a runner immediately back of him, or touches a runner after being deflected by an infielder, the ball is in play and the umpire shall not declare the runner out. In making such decision the umpire must be convinced that the ball passed through, or by, the infielder and that no other infielder had the chance to make a play on the ball; runners advance, if forced:

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

It's from the MLB rulebook. Maybe that's different than NCAA softball (it might be, softball has a lot of stupid rules, like re-entry).

And upon m,ore inspection, the umpires only got it half-right. The runner was safe and the ball was live.

(Rule 5.09(f) Comment: If a fair ball touches an umpire working in the infield after it has bounded past, or over, the pitcher, it is a dead ball. If a batted ball is deflected by a fielder in fair territory and hits a runner or an umpire while still in flight and then caught by an infielder it shall not be a catch, but the ball shall remain in play.
If a fair ball goes through, or by, an infielder, and touches a runner immediately back of him, or touches a runner after being deflected by an infielder, the ball is in play and the umpire shall not declare the runner out. In making such decision the umpire must be convinced that the ball passed through, or by, the infielder and that no other infielder had the chance to make a play on the ball; runners advance, if forced:

Would an outfielder playing as a fifth infielder be counted as an infielder here?

Does an infielder playing in the outfield grass count as an infielder when interpreting this rule?