Quote:
Originally posted by Al
Sec.33 in the USSSA rule book states...
"A tag out is the putting out of a runner who is not touching a base, by touching the runner with a live ball, or the glove or hand when the live ball is SECURELY HELD therein by a fielder. The ball is NOT considered as having been held securely if it is juggled or dropped AFTER the touching unless the runner deliberately knocks the ball from the hand of the fielder".
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A couple of things here.
How do you know the runner didn't deliberately kick the ball out of F2's glove in the OP? I know that didn't happen because if it did, Dave would have let us know.
Based solely on the wording above, if F3 tags out a runner for out #3 and drops the ball leaving the field, the runner isn't out. Absurd? Absolutely, but I'm basing it solely on what you have quoted. You have either omitted something, or there is an interpretation addressing this issue that you didn't publish.
Taking the wording of the rule noted above as absolute, as a player, I'm sliding hard into every player holding the ball, even on a force out. If lucky, the player will drop the ball and the umpire will call me safe.
Like many other softball rules, I understand what you quoted, but I doubt that is exactly what the authors meant. Of course, I could be wrong and if U-trip wants it that way, it's their game.