Rule 5

Section 1:

Dead Ball

Article 1...

     Ball becomes Dead immediately when:

[a]

a batted ball touches the pitcher or any part of his clothing. If the pitcher makes no effort to avoid being touched by a batted ball umpire may declare batter out, if the umpire determines that the pitcher could not have avoided contact or could not have reacted in time to avoid being touched by the batted ball, he may declare a “no pitch” and batter will resume with ball and strike count as it was before the “no pitch”. If the umpire determines that the pitcher deliberately initiated contact with the batted ball in an effort to cause a call of no pitch, the batter may be declared out; for a repeated occurrence, the pitcher may be ejected; or

[b]

The ball is illegally batted or is struck a second time with the bat, or the batter enters the plate area with an illegal bat (for first occurrence of illegal bat, umpire will issue a team warning, the next occurrence will be an out); or

[c]

Any batted ball, while on or over foul ground touches any object other than the

ground or any person other than a fielder; or goes directly from the bat to the catcher’s protector, mask, or person without first touching catcher’s glove or hand; or becomes an uncaught foul; or

[d]

There is interference by a retired or previous runner; or by any non - fielding

person or player; or

[e]

a batted ball which is on or over fair ground touches an umpire or other field official, or a spotter, before touching any fielder and before passing any fielder or before passing the forty - foot line; or touches a spectator; or goes over, through, or wedges in a field fence; or

[f]

when a pitched or batted ball is intentionally touched by a batter, or non - playing team member of either team; or goes into a stand or player’s bench; or lodges in an umpire’s equipment or clothing, or a player’s clothing; or

[g]

The umpire handles a live ball or calls “Time” for inspecting the ball or for any other reason, including items in

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