No. In baseball, including Little League, the runner must beat the ball to the base, or reach the base before being tagged, in order to be called safe at any base. (See Little League® Rules 6.05(i) and 7.08(e)). If it appears that the ball arrived at the same time the runner touched the base, it is an out because the runner did not beat the ball. A so-called tie does not go to the runner.

No, the batter is not entitled to first base. Since the batter swung, a strike is recorded, and if it was the third strike, the batter is out. In addition, for Majors and above this is not considered an uncaught strike situation under Little League® Rules 6.05(b) and 6.09(b) because the ball became dead once it contacted the batter. (The uncaught third strike rules do not apply to Minor league divisions).

Incorrect. A batter’s hands are part of the batter’s body, not the bat.1 If the batter is touched by a pitched ball which he or she did not attempt to hit, the batter is entitled to first base except when the umpire determines that:

(1) the batter was touched by a pitch while the ball was in flight in the strike zone (in which case it is a strike, the play is dead, and no runners may advance); or

(2) the batter was touched by a pitch while outside of the strike zone but the batter did not make an attempt to avoid the ball (in which case it is called a ball, the play is dead, and no runners may advance).

For example, if a batter leans across the plate into the strike zone and is touched by a pitch while it is in the strike zone, it is a strike and the play is dead. Similarly, if a batter is touched by a pitched ball outside the strike zone but did not make an attempt to avoid the ball, the batter is not entitled to first base but instead the pitch is ruled a ball and the play is dead. (See Little League® Rule 2.00-Strike).

Incorrect. The term “breaks his or her wrists” does not appear in the Little League® rulebook.

On what is commonly referred to as a “check swing,” the umpire must judge whether the batter attempted to strike at the pitch.

Little League® Rule 2.00 defines a “strike” as a legal pitch that meets any of these conditions:

(a) Is struck at by the batter and is missed;

(b) Is not struck at, if any part of the ball passes through any part of the strike zone;

(c) Is fouled by the batter when there is less than two strikes;

(d) Is bunted foul (batter is out and ball is dead if the batter bunts foul on the third strike);

(e) Touches the batter’s person as the batter strikes at it;

(f) Touches the batter in flight in the strike zone; or

(g) Becomes a foul tip.

Incorrect. Home plate, first, second, and third base are all completely within fair territory as are the foul lines. In order to rule the ball foul, the ball must have:

(1) settled on foul territory between home and first base,

(2) settled on foul territory between home and third base,

(3) been touched by a player or umpire while the ball was on, or over, foul territory, or

(4) touched by any object foreign to the natural ground, such as the dugout or backstop fence, while the ball was on, or over, foul territory

(See Little League® Rule 2.00--Foul Ball).

Foul Balls Beyond First or Third Base:

A batted ball is also foul when it bounds (e.g. bounces) onto foul territory beyond first or third base or first falls on foul territory beyond first or third base. Unless it is caught before touching the ground, the ball is dead once it touches the ground or an object foreign to the natural ground. (See Little League Rule 2.00–Foul Ball).

Incorrect. Whether a ball is foul depends on whether the batted ball is on, or over, foul territory. The position of the player is irrelevant in relation to the foul line. (See Rule 2.00–Definition of Foul Ball—Note 1).

For example, if a player in fair territory touches a batted ball while the ball is on or over foul territory, it is a foul ball because it is the position of the batted ball and not the player that matters.

Fly Balls: When a fielder attempts to catch a fly ball, the location of the ball when touched is the critical factor in determining whether the ball is fair or foul. For example, if a defensive player attempting to catch a fly ball first touches the ball when the ball is over foul territory, and after touching the ball it drops to the ground it does not matter where the ball lands or where the player was positioned. It is a foul ball because it was first touched by the player when the ball was over foul territory. It is the batted ball’s position when touched in relation to the foul line that is critical in determining whether it is a fair or foul ball.