6.05 Batter is Out When

6.05 When a Batter is Out

A batter is out when:

(a) - A fair or foul fly ball (other than a foul tip) is legally caught by a fielder.

A.R. – A fielder may reach into, but not step into, a dugout to make a catch, and if he/she holds the ball, the catch shall be allowed. A fielder must have one or both feet on or over the playing surface (including the dugout) to make a catch on a foul ball nearing a dugout or other dead ball area.

(b) - Majors/Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League: 

1. - A third strike is legally caught by the catcher.

2. - A third strike is not caught by the catcher when first base is occupied before two are out.

(c) - Bunting foul on a third strike.

(d) - An Infield Fly is declared.

(e) - The 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, the bat hits the ball a second time in fair territory. The ball is dead, and no runners may advance.

A.R. – If a bat is thrown into fair or foul territory and interferes with a defensive player attempting to make a play, interference shall be called, whether intentional or not.

(h) - After hitting or bunting a foul ball, the batter-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.

(i) - After hitting a fair ball, the batter-runner or first base is tagged before said batter-runner touches first base.

(j) - 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 runner’s lane, 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.

A.R. – The lines marking the three-foot lane are a part of that lane, and a batter-runner is required to have both feet within the runner’s lane or on the lines marking the 

(k) - 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.

A.R. – 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.

(l) - A preceding runner intentionally interferes with a fielder attempting to catch a thrown ball or make a play.

(m) - Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League: With two out, a runner on third base, and two strikes on the batter, the runner attempts to steal home, and the ball touches the runner in the batter’s strike zone. The umpire shall call “Strike Three,” the batter is out, and the run shall not count.

(n) - Local League Option: When a league permits teams to start and play games with eight (8) players, an out is called for the ninth (9th) position in the batting lineup. 

NOTE: FCLL Does not exercise this option and the game is played without the out being assessed for the absent 9th batter.