I used to call in Wisconsin, and the ball hitting the plate is an automatic ball (unless using a mat - then, results may vary depending on the league).
i see, every league or tourney I have ever played in uses a mat and the plate and mat are strikes. you guys got it made, plates not a strike and 2 foul balls? all tourney's here in southern wisconsin are plate and mat strike, 1 foul if you have no strike, if you have a strike a foul ball is an out. or many are one swing no matter you have a strike or not. 0-0 count and you swing and miss, or hit a foul and your out.