What determination is made when a line drive hits the fence and is deflected outside the foul line?

When a line drive hits the fence and is deflected outside the foul line, it is ruled a fair ball. This judgment is based on the fact that the ball was initially hit in fair territory; the fence, being part of the field, does not change that determination.

According to the rules, a ball remains fair unless it is conclusively determined to be foul by passing outside the foul lines. In this scenario, even though the deflection carries the ball outside the foul line, its initial trajectory and contact with the fence keep it in the realm of fair play. This ruling aligns with the principles of maintaining fairness in the game, as the ball was not intentionally played outside the boundary.

The incorrect options each stem from misunderstandings of the rules governing fair and foul balls. A foul ball is only declared if the ball first lands or is otherwise played in foul territory without touching any part of the fair territory, which did not occur in this case. Additionally, a dead ball ruling would imply that the ball is no longer in play due to an external factor or rule infraction, which again does not apply here. Ignoring the play does not reflect the standard practice, as all hits are accounted for unless there is a specific reason to call the