Fielders Choice or Hit?

[Fman]

Runners on first and third. Batter bunts the ball, pitcher fields it cleanly. Looks to make play at the plate on runner from 3rd. Decides it's too late and doesn't throw home. Turns to make the out on the batter at 1st but also decides it's too late and doesn't throw. So she fielded it cleanly but didn't attempt a throw to either base. No fielding or throwing error made on the play. Does this get scored as a bunt base hit?

[bmclaurin]

Under OBR, it is a base hit unless the fielder "attempts" to put out a preceding runner. An "attempt" would ordinarily be a throw to the preceding runner's advance base, an attempted tag (regardless of whether successful), etc., but would not ordinarily include a "look" to a preceding runner (as that would not constitute an attempt to put that runner out.

Rule 10.05(a)(6) states:

The official scorer shall credit a batter with a base hit when...a fielder unsuccessfully attempts to put out a preceding runner and, in the offi-cial scorer's judgment, the batter-runner would not have been put out at first base by ordinary effort.

Rule 10.05(a) Comment: In applying Rule 10.05(a), the official scorer shall always give the batter the benefit of the doubt. A safe course for the official scorer to follow is to score a hit when exceptionally good fielding of a ball fails to result in a putout.

Furthermore, Rule 2.00 defines a fielder's choice as follows:

FIELDER'S CHOICE is the act of a fielder who handles a fair grounder and, instead of throwing to first base to put out the batter-runner, throws to another base in an attempt to put out a preceding runner....

So, if following OBR, score it as a base hit.

[team mom]

See a similar discussion here. In fastpitch I would score it as a FC.

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=7713" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mprusak]

Welcome to the board!

Check out this thread which provide some additional insight:

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6327&p=28192" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

edit: man you guys are fast...

[Fman]

I thought it would be scored a bunt base hit but the coach/scorer did not agree and put it as a failed FC. I would think a throw attempt would be required to call it a failed FC. I see from the post below that MLB Rules would consider it a hit? Just to further clarify the situation, this was my daughters Varsity HS softball game, if that makes a difference due to different set of rules.

[team mom]

It is a hit for MLB but a FC for fastpitch based on the cited rules. You might want to check your high school rules to see if they address it since there seems to be some differences among the different authorities.

[bmclaurin]

See my edited post above. It's a base hit under OBR, but I think you get a different answer under fast pitch, as that rule set specifically includes a "look" to a preceding runner as one of the actions that can give rise to a fielder's choice.

Edit: Team Mom beat me to it.

[team mom]

jut to clarify your post, did the pitcher hold the runner at third or did that runner go home and pitcher did not have a play anywhere? In that case, I think it is a hit.

[Fman]

This site is awesome! Just joined to ask this question and can't believe how quickly I got all these answers! So in baseball, it's a hit. In Fastpitch, it specifically addresses it as a FC? Can you direct me to that set of rules for fast pitch softball please? Thanks!

[Fman]

To team mom. Answer. The runner form 3rd broke from home at contact with the ball which is why the pitcher, although looked to throw home, correctly decided she would not have the play at home. By the time she turned back to try and throw my daughter out at 1st, she had no play there either and did not throw to 1st.
BTW - They have my daughter as 3 for 5 and I believe she was actually, because of this play, 4 for 5. Double, Homer, walk off single to win the game in extra innings, and this bunt play I refer to here.
Proud Dad!