Be the Referee: Softball Strikeout
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
April 11, 2023
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Softball Strikeout - Listen
It’s time for … You make the call.
With a 3-2 count, a softball hitter takes a swing at a pitch that comes in high and inside.
Her swing completely misses the pitch, but the ball subsequently hits her on the right shoulder during the follow-through of her swing. What should happen?
Is the batter awarded first base for being hit by a pitch?
Is a foul ball called, with the count remaining full and the at-bat continuing?
Or is the batter out on strikes, and the ball is dead?
What about any potential runners on base – would they be allowed to advance in this scenario?
A batter with two strikes who swings and misses and then is subsequently hit by the pitch is out.
Any runners on base must stay put as the ball is ruled immediately dead after it hits the batter.
If you said it’s a strikeout – you are correct. And since it’s also ruled a dead ball after the out, any runners on base are not allowed to advance.
Any strike that also hits the batter is ruled a strike … and no base is awarded for being hit by the pitch.
Previous Editions:
March 14: Basketball Instant Replay - Listen
March 7: Hockey Overtime - Listen
Feb. 28: Baker Bowling - Listen
Feb. 21: Ski Finish - Listen
Feb. 14: Swimming Touchpads - Listen
Feb. 7: In or Out-of-Bounds in Wrestling - Listen
Jan. 31: Over the Back - Listen
Jan. 24: Competitive Cheer Judges - Listen
Jan. 17: More Lines - Listen
Jan. 10: On the Line - Listen
Jan. 3: Basketball Measurements - Listen
Dec. 13: Pregame Dunks - Listen
Dec. 6: Gymnastics Judges - Listen
Nov. 22: Football Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 15: Back Row Illegal Blocker - Listen
Nov. 8: Swim Turn Judges - Listen
Nov. 1: Soccer Referee Jersey Colors - Listen
Oct. 25: Cross Country Tie-Breaker - Listen
Oct. 18: Soccer Shootouts - Listen
Oct. 11: Safety in End Zone - Listen
Oct. 4: Football Overtime Penalty - Listen
Sept. 27: Kickoff Goal - Listen
Sept. 20: Soccer Timing - Listen
Sept. 13: Volleyball Replays - Listen
Sept. 6: Switching Sides - Listen
Aug. 30: Play Clock - Listen
Aug. 23: Intentional Grounding Change - Listen
Officiate Michigan Day 2026 - Register to Join Us!
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 19, 2026
Officiate Michigan Day 2026 will welcome 2,000 MHSAA-registered game officials to Grand Rapids on July 25 – and registration is available now for this historic gathering expected to draw participants from all over the state.
Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with the first session at 9 a.m. at DeVos Place. The day-long event will feature dynamic speakers and presenters providing knowledge in several sports and all levels including collegiate and professional. We will be highlighting several of those speakers over the next many weeks on MHSAA.com and social media as part of the lead-up to the event.
Cost is $45 if officials register by the end of June, and $50 beginning July 1. More information is on the way; keep posted at MHSAA.com/OMD.
This will be the third Officiate Michigan Day, joining events in 2013 and 2018.
OMD will accompany the annual National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) Summit that will take place July 26-28, also at DeVos Place.