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This is a "Little League Rules" question.

When a batter bats out of turn -- and bats to completion -- but the defense "appeals" before the next batter receives a pitch, the basic correct answer is to give the batter who SHOULD HAVE BATTED an out.

It is also clear (so I'm told) that any runners advancing on the hit of the WRONG batter are returned to their starting positions (apparently this is NOT so if the advance is on a passed ball/stolen base, however).

Here is my question: If, upon the HIT of WRONG batter, a runner is out (for example, fielder's choice to second for the forced out). Does the out in the field STAND (thus awarding two outs on the play). Or is the ONLY out the one awarded to the batter who SHOULD have batted?

Wikipedia says the fielded OUT stands -- but my little league umpires say no.

What do the rules say?

OK, twist the facts one more time, what if the out is on the WRONG BATTER (vs. an advancing runner). Different results?

Thanks.

M

NOTE: Wiki says the following: If the batter who just finished batting does not follow the previous batter in the written order, his plate appearance was improper, any advances or scores due to his action are nullified, he is removed from the bases if he reached, and the proper batter is called out.

Outs made against runners other than the improper batter stand.[citation needed]

For example, if the improper batter hits into a double play, in which he was put out as well as another runner, the defense can still appeal that he was the improper batter. If this is the case, the proper batter is declared out, the improper batter's putout is taken away, and the batter that follows the proper batter who was declared out will come to the plate.

The runner involved in the double play remains out.

If any additional runners advanced on the play because of the batted ball by the improper batter, they would have to return to the base they occupied at the time of the pitch. This means that if a runner steals a base during an improper batter's at-bat, that runner remains on that base since it was obtained through his own effort.



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What do you think? Is there authority for this rule interpretation?

The outs on the other runners stand. (Wikipedia is correct in this instance). In other words, the offense is who did something improper. The defense is not penalized by returning a runner they put out just because the offense did something wrong. This is the same for LL and MLB rule sets.