With no outs and a runner on second base, the batter bunts the ball, fair, and three feet in front of the plate. The batter drops the bat in fair territory and begins to run to first. The batted ball has lots of back spin, so it reverses course and strikes the bat, which is laying in fair territory. In the umpire's judgment, the bat, while in fair territory, prevented the ball from going foul. What is the call?

 

A. The umpire calls "time", the batter is out for interference, and the runner returns to second base

B. The umpire calls and signals "foul" and adds a strike to the batter's count

C. No call, fair ball, and play on.