[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

At my son's Toledo (Ohio) Park and Rec. League 12U baseball game I learned something new tonight.

Guess what fellow umpires?

If a runner is awarded home because the ball went into dead ball territory, the runner can go straight to the dugout without touching home because he is being awarded the base and the missing of home plate cannot be appealed because the runner was awarded the base. I asked the umpire if this was a special league rule and he told me no. That the rules of baseball do not require the runner to touch home when it is awarded due to the ball going into dead ball territory. The play did not cost my son's team the game because they lost by four runs, but the things you learn from non-registered umpires and officials.