Born 10 Years Too Early (Bean Batter Rule)

Local ASA league has the new rule that beaned batters have the option to take the base or stay and hit. Oh man I wish that rule had been around when I was playing. There were so many times I would have opted to stay and hit! Of course, my coach may not have let me. But I know there were a bunch of times when my coach would say, "I wanted you to hit, not walk" on regular walks, so maybe he would have let me stay and hit.

Of course, there were many other times too when I was glad to get the base.

Right now though, I'm working with 10U girls and a bunch of them are young enough to play 8U next spring still. So this summer season is the first time they are facing opposing pitchers with a count vs. having their coach pitch to them. Most of them don't want to hit or take the base after getting hit by a pitch ~ they're too busy hurting (and some times crying ~ I know, I know, there's no crying in softball). This age group for summer is just sort of like that ~ a learning league where you have new pitchers who are just learning (and a bit wild) and batters who've never had pitches come at them before. So there are bound to be hit by pitch incidents that end up in tears, ice, and a pinch runner on 1st.