Andrea Bell
Staff Writer

Baseball has several rules that seem less apparent, but one in particular is a special exception to the rules that happens more than expected.

When the ball gets dropped by the catcher on the third strike, the batter can try to run to first base as fast as he can. If he beats the ball, it doesn’t count as an out.

The catchers drop the ball quite often but it is hard for the runner to beat the ball because the ball usually doesn’t get far from the catcher before he picks it out and throws it to first.

Unless the catcher is especially slow, or the runner is exceptionally fast, the player will hardly ever be able to accomplish the task of beating the ball.

This rule is in place to penalize the catcher for dropping the ball, but there is still a fighting chance that they won’t give up a run.

It is risky during the process of getting the third out if the ball is dropped and the runner makes it to the base. Then the team gets another chance to advance runners or score.