MARCH 9, 2020 I did not realize the player entered the batter's box with an illegal bat. An illegal bat is a bat that is either unapproved or altered. In this case, it was an Easton "Gold" Ghost, which is unapproved for high school play. The same bat with the blue lettering is approved and carries the appropriate USA Softball approved logos. I did not realize the batter had used this bat until after she cranked a deep foul ball and I saw the bat laying on the ground.

RULE CITATION
NFHS 742: ART. 2 . . . The batter enters the batter's box with an illegal bat or is discovered having used an illegal bat and the infraction is detected before the next legal or illegal pitch (only the umpire or defense may detect an illegal bat).
PENALTY: The ball is dead immediately. All runners not put out on the play must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. When the illegal bat is an altered or nonapproved bat, the batter and head coach are also ejected.
NOTE: Damaged bats are not illegal and are removed from the game without penalty.

Make it a great game! Michael Leavitt Orem, Utah