| CHECKEDSWING | Partial motion by a batter that may be ruled either a ball or a strike: 2 wds. |
| HIT | A blockbuster film or a smasher of a song; a visit to a website; or, a strike of a real or proverbial nail-head (3) |
| ROOST | Perch that may be ruled (5) |
| LUMP | Feature of a batter that needs more whisking |
| BALK | False motion by a baseball pitcher |
| BOBODENKIRK | Better Call Saul actor who auctioned a dinner with himself and David Cross to benefit the WGA strike: 2 wds. |
| NATASHALYONNE | Poker Face actress who auctioned co-solving a crossword puzzle to benefit the WGA strike: 2 wds. |
| JOHNLITHGOW | The Crown actor who auctioned painting a pet's portrait to benefit the WGA strike: 2 wds. |
| LUMPY | Like batter that hasn't been mixed well |
| PANCAKE | Thin layer of batter that is fried on both sides (7) |
| TAKE | A scene or version of a shot filmed at one time; a sequence of recorded music; a capture of a chess piece; a catch of a ball; or, a quantity of copy given to a compositor (4) |
| CATCH | From "chase", a word meaning capture, grasp, seize or take, as in a ball or a cold; or, a clasp, clip, hasp, latch or anything that fastens or holds (5) |
| BOX | Shrub sometimes clipped into a ball or a spiral; or, a container for a hat, chocolates or a pair of shoes (3) |
| STROKE | A rub or smooth with one's hand; a blow or hit of something such as a golf/tennis ball; or, a linear mark made with a paintbrush or a pen (6) |
| LACROSSE | A team sport played with sticks and a ball - or a hybrid grape cultivar (8) |
| SAMBA | One man's name for a bit of a ball, or a dance (5) |
| ONTHEUP | Of a stroke by a batter in cricket, played as the ball rises from its bounce (2,3,2) |
| BREAK | A pause for rest or refreshment; a fracture; the start of a horse race; the opening shot in snooker that scatters the balls; or, a golden opportunity (5) |
| SLOG | A wild hit of a cricket ball; or, a strenuous effort, graft, grind or haul (4) |
| REDCROSS | Agency that often provides relief after a hurricane strikes: 2 wds. |
