he
ball in any part of the field he chooses by meeting the ball at different
angles. He may make a safe hit either by hitting the ball on the ground
directly through the infield out of reach of the fielders, or so hard that
it cannot be [v.03 p.0461] stopped. In the last case a failure to stop and
field it does not count as an "error" (misplay) for the fielder, even
though it came straight at him, the decision as to errors appearing in the
score (_v. infra_) depending upon the official scorer of the home club. The
batsman may also hit safely by placing the ball over the heads of the
infielders, but not far enough to be caught by the outfielders, or over the
heads of the outfielders themselves, or he may bunt successfully. A hit by
which two bases can be made (without errors by opponents) is a
"two-base-hit," one for three bases a "three-base-hit," and one for four
bases a "home-run." The batsman may be put out in various ways. For
example, he is out (1) if he fails to bat in the order named in the
published batting-list; (2) if he fails to take his position within one
minute after the umpire has summoned him; (3) if he makes a foul hit which
is caught before it strikes the ground (a ball barely ticked by the bat
["foul-tip"] does not count); (4) if he oversteps the batting-lines; (5) if
he intentionally obstructs or interferes with the catcher; (6) if he
unsuccessfully attempts the third strike and the ball hits his person or is
caught by the catcher (under certain conditions he is out whether the ball
is so caught or not), or, not being caught, is thrown to first-base and
held there by an opposing player before the batsman can get there; (7) if a
fair ball be caught before striking the ground; (8) if any fair ball is
fielded to first-baseman before he reaches the base. The batsman becomes a
base-runner the moment he starts for first-base. He may, when he first
reaches first-base, overrun his base (provided he turns to his right in
returning to it) without risk of being put out, but thereafter can be put
out by being touched with the ball in the hands of a fielder unless some
part of the runner's person is in contact with the base. When a fair or
foul ball struck by a batsman on his side is caught on the fly, he must
retouch his base, or be put out if the baseman receives the ball before he
can do so. A runner on first-base is forced to run to second as soon as a
fair ball is batted, or, being on second with another runner