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I was lucky enough to call a local county tournament this weekend. Did three games, first two on the plate, last one on the bases. Here's a situation we had happen.
Runner on THIRD one out.
Batter grounds to third base, she looks runner back, throws to first. Throw is wild, causing F3 to pull foot. I call, "pulled foot, SAFE!" F3 sees runner breaking for home, throws ball home to get the runner out at the plate.
(Next two happen simultaneously)
Defense starts off the field, coach realizes what I said and has fielders pick up ball and touch first base.
Batter-Runner thinks she's out, heads back to dugout by jogging down first-baseline. Coach says, "you call her safe." I said I did. He then yells "go back to first."
(Here's the fun part)
Runner heads back to first where, luckily, a wise fielder grabs the ball and tags the runner before she reaches first base. I call out.
MY QUESTION: Both coaches bring up good points.
DC: she's running bases in reverse/she gave herself up
OC: She never turned towards second, doesn't she get first automatically?
(by the way, my partner is shaking his head yes to both coaches at the same time)
Luckily, when I called the third out that inning it was already 8-0. So neither coach was upset by it.
Just wondering how you guys explain that one to a coach, or if you give the runner "benefit of the doubt" in returning to first, or if you envoke "umpire put her in jeopardy" rule, or if you just pull something out of your netherregions and hope coach buys it.
(Coach isn't really intense towards umpires; he actually likes umpires)
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