Letter

Running Up Rule Confusion

Sept. 1, 2003 – Letters from readers

I am trying to get an official interpretation on the new rule this year (12.3d) on running up on the pitcher.

I am getting a lot of flack in our league for trying to enforce this rule the way it is written.

I interpret it as any running up, meaning that even if you stay in the batter's box, you are out.

Others say you have to go out of the box to be out. That is the way it has always been.

In my opinion the added section means that you are out even if you don't go out of the box ˆ otherwise why add the wording?

Ferdinand A Scerra Jr.

Marlboro (MA) Senior Softball Association

Editor's Note: There has been a lot of confusion over the new wording in the rule about running up in the batter's box. The wording was added to emphasis to umpires to call a batter out who runs up AND STEPS OUT of the batter's box. The wording will be removed in the next edition f the rulebook because instead of emphasizing the rule, it simply created confusion.