A batter becomes a batter-runner, entitled to attempt first, second, third, then home in order, when: (A) hitting a fair ball (NOTE: becomes a runner when entitled to run); (B) charged with a third strike (NOTE: if caught before touching the ground, the batter is out an instant after becoming a runner; see exception in Rule 15 Sec 8.a); (C) a fourth ball is called; (D) a pitched ball, legal or illegal, hits the batter's person or clothing — EFFECT: the ball is dead immediately. EXCEPTIONS: (1) if the batter swings, or the ball enters the strike zone, or the batter prevents it from entering the strike zone, a strike is called (batter out if it's the third); (2) if the batter intentionally moves to get hit, it's a strike or ball depending on pitch location. NOTES: (1) a hit on a loose, unbuttoned garment does not entitle the batter to first base; (2) it doesn't matter if the ball hits the ground first; (3) the batter's hands are not part of the bat; (4) if the batter swings and the ball hits her hands sending it fair or foul, the ball is dead immediately, a strike is called, and a third strike is an out.

Sec 8. A runner becomes liable to be put out when: (A) with the ball in play or on awarded bases, failing to touch a base before attempting the next; (B) after overrunning first base, attempting to continue to second; (C) after dislodging a base, attempting to continue to the next base. Sec 9. If a batter-runner is entitled to return to first after overrunning, or a runner fails to touch home plate, and wishes to return, the runner shall return immediately.

The batter-runner is out: A. when interfering with the catcher's attempt to field the ball after a third strike. B. when a batted ball in flight is caught by a fielder, or the catch is prevented by a spectator reaching into the field enclosure. C. when a fair fly, line drive, or bunted ball in flight is intentionally dropped by an infielder with at least first base occupied and fewer than two outs — the ball is dead and runners return to their bases (NOTE: the batter is not out if the infielder simply lets the ball drop untouched, except when the infield-fly rule applies). D. if, after a third strike or fair hit, a fielder holding the ball tags out the batter-runner before she touches first, or touches first while holding the ball before she touches first.

The catcher or any infielder obstructing the batter is a delayed dead ball. After being informed by the Plate Umpire, the offensive coach/captain elects to accept the result of the play or the penalty (batter awarded first, other runners advancing only if forced); the election must be made before the next pitch (legal or illegal) or before infielders leave the diamond. Obstruction of the batter before she becomes a batter-runner is ignored if the batter-runner reaches first and all other runners advance at least one base. NOTE 1: a runner attempting to advance (steal/squeeze) during the obstruction is awarded the base attempted; a runner not attempting to advance is not entitled to the next base unless forced by the batter's award. NOTE 2: if enforced, other runners return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch unless forced. NOTE 3: if not enforced, other runners advance at their own risk.

M. violates the Look-Back Rule. N. fails to reach the next base before a fielder tags her out or holds the ball while touching that base, after being forced from her base because the batter became a runner (EXCEPTION: no runner may be forced out if a runner who follows in the batting order is first put out, including a batter-runner out on an infield fly). O. is contacted by a fair-batted ball before it touches/passes an infielder, or after passing any infielder except the pitcher when the Umpire judges another fielder had a play (EFFECT: ball dead, batter awarded first, other runners return to the base occupied at the time of the infraction unless forced; EXCEPTION: a runner touching a base when hit is not out unless intentionally interfering — ball is live if the closest fielder is in front of the base, dead if behind; NOTE 1: under the infield-fly rule, a runner hit while not touching a base is out along with the batter; NOTE 2: if hit after passing an infielder other than the pitcher with no other fielder having an opportunity, the runner is not out and the ball remains live). P. is detected passing an unobstructed preceding runner before that runner is out. Q. is detected running bases in reverse to confuse opponents or make a travesty of the game.

A runner must return to base when: (A) a batted ball is foul; (B) an illegally batted ball is declared; (C) a batter, batter-runner, or runner is called out for interference (other runners return to the last base legally touched at the time of interference); (D) any part of the batter's person/clothing is touched by a pitched ball swung at and missed; (E) a batter is hit by a pitch, unless forced; (F) an intentionally dropped ball is ruled. EFFECT for A-F: the ball is dead and each runner returns to their base without liability, except when forced to the next base because the batter became a batter-runner. G. When the Plate Umpire interferes with the catcher's attempt to throw out a stealing runner, or an attempted pick-off: EFFECT: delayed dead ball. If the runner is ruled out, the ball remains live; if not out, all runners return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. It is not umpire interference if, on a passed ball or wild pitch, the umpire is hit by a catcher's throw — the ball remains live.

R. after at least touching first base, leaves the baseline, obviously abandoning effort to touch the next base. S. is detected taking a position for a running start behind and not in contact with a base. T. is properly appealed while on or beyond a succeeding base when the ball is declared dead after leaving a base too soon on a caught fly ball, failing to touch a preceding base, or continuing to and touching a succeeding base after the ball became dead (NOTE: a runner is not declared out if a fielder deliberately throws or carries the ball into dead-ball territory to prevent her from returning to a missed base or a base left too soon). U. fails to touch intervening base(s) in regular or reverse order and the ball is returned to the infield and properly appealed — if the runner put out is the batter-runner at first, or any runner forced to advance because the batter became a batter-runner, this is a force out. V. intentionally contacts a fair ball that an infielder has missed.

The Look-Back Rule is in effect when the ball is live, the batter-runner has touched first base or been declared out, and the pitcher has possession of the ball (in hand, glove, under arm/chin, or between the legs) within the 16-foot circle. Runners in motion may continue without stopping, or may stop once. A runner who stops must immediately move directly back to the last base touched or attempt to advance to the next base; once stopped at a base, the runner may not move off it. A batter-runner who overruns first and does not without delay attempt to advance to second must return to first and stop. A runner off base may not stand motionless. No motion or recognition by the pitcher is required. Failure to respond causes the Umpire to signal the runner out and the ball dead. If the pitcher no longer has possession of the ball within the 16-foot circle, makes an attempt on a runner, or fakes a throw, this rule does not apply. Being in the circle means both feet within or partially within the line (feet may touch the line and extend outside it). Runners are released from Look-Back compliance if the pitcher, while in the circle with the ball, makes any act that, in the umpire's judgment, causes a runner to react — i.e., raising the throwing arm or making an aggressive body movement toward the runner (stepping toward, head/body fakes); merely moving the head or staring is not an attempted play. EFFECT: the ball becomes dead immediately and the runner is out.