Speaking Fed.
I endorse Mr. Rowe's recommendation for preventive umpiring. But if that doesn't work, I'm not sure of the correct answer for outs. I went back thru the book, and would like expert insight.
USC ejections are judgement, not automatic. Higher levels, yes, the coach is gone. Players possibly too, if I even suspect they were not merely following directions.
But at lower levels, maybe not. In OR, all school is under Fed. Middle school teams, sometimes with 11-12 yros, some times with 0 LL experience, & rookie coaches. I've seen stranger things with no malintent. I wouldn't want to eject players in this case, and even sometimes at higher levels, if evidence is they were just following instructions, as that costs them the next game. I think that message should be saved for only those who would try this intentionally.
Even if USC, that calls for player replacement, but is not an out in this case. I believe the runner at 2nd. is out, justification would be passing the other runner. Don't know what rule to cite to call runner @ 1st. out. If the runner at 1st. should also be out, please identify what article would address that. Or, could defense appeal to 2nd., claiming runner on wrong base/off base? And wouldn't the appeal be required before calling runner now on 1st. out?
I would make it clear to the players and any coach I thought did this by mistake that a repeat would mean an ejection.
Thanks in advance. I've never seen this, which means it will probably happen in my next game.
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Panda Bear
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