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Nothing I did on this play was right or satisfied me. I did a game Friday between two church high schools using Fed rules. In my area these schools are,at best, generally medium level rec-like teams who play hard and do the best they can. I'm plate. Runner on first. 2-2 count to the batter. Next pitch is ball 3. Pitcher gets ball back and is standing in the circle when runner takes a 3-4 step/jump off the bag. I look at my partner, he's looking in a different direction, so I call dead ball runner out for leaving early. 1st base coach shakes his head and says to me "it was my fault blue, I thought it was ball 4". I say "I'm reversing the call. Coach made a mistake on the count" and put the girl back on 1st. Immediately defensive coach (team leading 10-3) asks to come out and begins telling me how I can't reverse that, the girl broke the rule and too bad if the coach made a mistake. I'm a bit taken back by his lack of sportsmanship and turn around and say to first base coach "sorry, I've got to call her out. Coach is right about the RULES". Offense accepts ruling and game goes on.
As I said, I'm not happy with anything about the play or any of my rulings. My question is did I have any rule (other than the golden rule) to stand on for my intial call of putting the runner back? I was using the level of play in my consideration.
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