Dropped Third Strike
D3KA third strike the catcher fails to catch cleanly, which can let the batter try to reach first base.
On a third strike that the catcher does not catch cleanly, the batter is not automatically out. They may try to reach first base, and are out only if tagged or thrown out, provided first base is unoccupied (or there are two outs).
The pitcher is still credited with a strikeout whether or not the batter reaches, which is why a pitcher can record more than three strikeouts in an inning. If the batter reaches, it is recorded much like reaching on a passed ball or wild pitch, not as a hit.
Youth leagues differ on this rule. Some age divisions disable the dropped-third-strike rule entirely so the batter is simply out, which is one reason the ruleset matters when you score a youth game.
Bleacher Notes credits the pitcher's strikeout, then records whether the batter reached, and applies the league's age-specific dropped-third-strike rule from the active ruleset.
Can a batter reach base on a strikeout?
Yes. On a dropped (uncaught) third strike with first base open or two outs, the batter may try for first. The pitcher still gets the strikeout, but the batter is not out unless tagged or thrown out.
Let the scorebook keep itself.
Bleacher Notes scores every play from a single spoken sentence, applying these rules for you. In beta now, free for parents.