ball hits bat

Question
QUESTION: 1)Bat it fair territory, ball hits bat and stays fair, fair ball?
2) Bat it fair territory, ball hits bat and rolls/sttles in foul, foul ball?
3) Bat if foul territory, ball hits bat and stays foul, foul ball?
4) Bat if foul territory, ball hits bat and rolls/settles in fair territory, foul or fair ball?
If #4 is foul, why? Wouldn't it be like hitting stone in could and then rolling into fair, thus making it a fair ball?

ANSWER: Hi jan

Rather than answer just yes and no tour your questions let's just go over the rule.

If the ball strikes the bat on the ground in fair territory the batted ball is fair or foul depending on out fair/foul rules.  if the ball is touched or settles over fair territory it is a fair ball.  If it is touched or settles over foul territory it is a foul ball.

If the ball hits the bat on the ground in foul territory it is "by rule" a dead ball, foul ball.  It can never be a fair ball.

Mark

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Why difference if ball hits bat it foul territory now a (foul ball/dead ball) compared with hitting say a stone in foul territory and rolling into fair, making it a fair ball?

Answer
Hi jan,

I was hoping "by rule"would be enough for you but OK I'll type it out..................Foul ball, a batted ball that.....d) while over foul territory touches the person, attached or detached equipment or clothing of a player or umpire, or any object foreign to the natural ground.

So a bat, a cooler, a water bottle etc is foreign to the natural ground while obviously a rock or stone is not.
Best,

Mark