Little League (Majors) softball. R1 on third. B2 draws a walk, F2 returns ball to F1 as B2 trots to first. B2 then touches first and without stopping rounds it for a couple of steps, then stops and returns to first. Defensive coach claims that once B2 moved off first toward second, she was required to attempt to advance to second and could not return to first, and thus should be declared out. I say no, applying my knowledge of NFHS rule 8-7-4(a) and ASA rule 8-7-T(a).
Days later, I looked up the LL look-back rule. After intense skimming, all I could find was 7.08(a)(5), after the part about no lead-offs. It just says (twice) that once F1 has the ball in the circle, a runner off a base must immediately try to advance or return. It does not require that the batter-runner reach first (or be put out) before it is in effect, nor does it have the above-referenced articles describing the rules for rounding and overrunning first. Strictly interpreted, R1 could not be off third once the ball was returned to F1, even though B2 was still en route to first. And arguably, B2 could not even lose contact with first base if she touches it after F1 has the ball in the circle. So she wouldn't be out for rounding and not continuing to second, she'd be out just for rounding at all.
So . . , Questions:
1. What ruling the original play?
2. What am I missing about the LL look-back rule?
3. In general, how much should I import other rulesets to fill in the gaps in the Little League rules?
4. Since one of the penaties of the LL no-leadoffs/look-back rule is that the "circle must be properly marked", do I make the offending player do it personally, or can anyone on the offensive team do it?
