Hawk’s Rules at Home Plate: Myths and Misconceptions Part 1

Featuring Doug “Hawk” Erickson

Doug “Hawk” Erickson is a former Little League Umpire Consultant and Rules Expert.  His umpire experience includes working three World Series (Little League World Series – 1995 and 2 Softball World Series), eight Regional Tournaments and, conducting two week long umpire schools annually for Little League Baseball. His training school played a huge role in Adam Hamari’s rise to becoming an MLB Umpire. He is serving his 49th year in youth baseball and softball and is currently a Babe Ruth State Commissioner for the States of Michigan and Wisconsin. He was inducted into the Upper Peninsula Little League Hall of Fame in 1995. Hawk’s Rules are based on his training school along with the manual and rules book he helped write. 

THE HANDS ARE PART OF THE BAT
Approved Ruling: The hands are not part of the bat, they are part of the batter (I have not seen a bat manufactured with a set of hands attached yet).  If a pitch hits the batter’s hands, the ball is dead, if swung at a pitch, a strike is called. If he/she was avoiding the pitch, he/she awarded first base.  RULE 2.00

IF A BATTED BALL HITS THE PLATE FIRST IT’S A FOUL BALL.
Approved Ruling: Home plate, first, second, and third base are all completely within fair territory. The foul lines are also within fair territory. In order to rule the ball foul, it must have come to rest in foul territory or be touched in foul territory. Rule 2.00

THE BALL IS DEAD ON A FOUL TIP.
Approved Ruling: The ball is always live on a foul tip. Runners may be put out or advance at their own risk. Rule 2.00

THE BATTER WHO BATTED OUT OF ORDER IS THE PERSON DECLARED OUT.
Approved Ruling: The batter that is supposed to bat (the proper batter) is the one that is declared out, when the defensive team properly appeals the infraction. Rule 6.07

Keep checking back for more of Hawk’s Rules at Home Plate.