Fielder's Choice or Error?

by Steve
(Cromwell, CT)

Steve asked: In a Little League game there were runners on 2nd and 3rd.

The batter hit a grounder back to the pitcher.

The pitcher threw the ball to home. The catcher held the ball.

The runner on 3rd did not attempt to go home. The batter was safe at 1st.

Was this a fielder's choice or an error by the pitcher?

Should this be scored as a base hit?

Thank you.


Rick answered: Steve, thank you for your question.

Your situation is scored as a fielder's choice, no error can be given for a mental mistake.

Based on your description, the batter would have been out, had the pitcher thrown to 1B, thus a fielder's choice.

For a base hit to be recorded, the scorer would have to believe that, even with perfect fielding, the pitcher had no chance to get the batter at first base. In that case, he could record a hit for the batter.


Yours in baseball,

Rick