Batting Rules

 Batting 

• A legal bat is an official softball bat that isn't more than 34” in length, not more than 38 oz. in weight, and not greater than 2.25” in diameter at its largest part. If a player is discovered using a bat that exceeds these dimensions, the umpire will instruct him to remove the bat from play. If a player violates the rule a second time, he'll be ejected from the game, and his at bat will be ruled a strike out. 
• High performance and/or altered bats aren't permitted in games or in batting practice.  Single wall and composite aluminum bats or wood bats are permitted.  
• If there is no marked batter’s box, then a reasonable area will be considered the batter’s box. A batter will be called out if he steps on the strike zone mat when hitting a pitch, whether it is hit fair or foul, or if all of his back foot is completely in front of the strike zone mat when he hits the pitch.  
• Each batter begins with a 0-1 count, no balls and one strike. (An exception is made for a game with three teams where the count starts 1-1.) The batter is out on any third strike. This includes a foul ball after two strikes. 
• A batter must take a full swing at a pitch. Bunting or chopping is an out.  
• A batter who hits a grounder or fly ball into the outfield is automatically awarded first base (unless the fly ball is caught). Rovers are considered as outfielders.  EXCEPTION: If an infielder deflects a hit and the ball rolls into the outfield, that or another INFIELDER can still retrieve the ball and throw out the batter. (Infielder ONLY - Not an outfielder). 
• If a batter hits a foul ball and the catcher catches it, the batter is out. 
• If a batter throws or releases a bat and it hits another player or the umpire, the player is out. If the batter throws a bat and it does not hit anyone, the player will receive a warning; a second occurrence in a game is an automatic out. A player throwing a bat in anger may be ejected from a game, and his at bat in the lineup will count as an out.