Many years ago I was working a game at North Judson. As I gave the ready for play signal, a bat landed on the ground about 5 yds. in front of me. Sure enough, they snapped the ball and the QB rolled toward me … and the bat. I kept one eye on the QB and one eye on the bat as the play ran. Somehow, the bat escaped being trampled and flew away before the next play. At that time, the local public TV station, WYIN, broadcast a game each week on tape delay. I was able to get home in time to watch the replay, and the bat showed up great.
And no, I did not throw a flag for an “illegal bat.”