Here is something that played out over the weekend.
The wife and I were watching a Co-Ed tourny and it was the championship game. Visiting team was batting, and there was runners on 1st and 2nd. on a double to left the runner on 2nd has rounded 3rd. runner on 1st is going to 3rd. The outfielder overthrows 3rd base and the ball sails over 3rd and towards home plate. The runner that was on 2nd is now headed home when the ball is on it's way from the over throw. The runner scores and everyone in the dugout comes out to congratulate the runner at the plate. But, the ball is still rolling around. No-one touches the ball as it goes out the dugout gate which is left open from the other players coming on to the field to congratulate the person that just scored. After the ball goes outside the fence, one of the visiting team members yells " It's out" and the plate umpire awards the person on third home plate.
Now. The Coach of the Home team comes out of the dugout and wants to know why time wasn't called or dead ball wasn't called for all the people that came out of the dugout from the other team while the ball was still in play.
The PU told him he watched the ball, and nobody touched it before it went out of play. And he said it wouldn't have went out of play if the other team wasn't standing around home with the catcher trying to get the ball.
As it turns out that one run was the deciding factor in the game. Visitors won 14-13.
Here is my question:
Should he Plate Umpire have called time when the other team came onto the field while the ball was still in play, and stop the runners at the base they were currently on? Or did he make the right decision in awarding the runners extra bases when the ball exited the field?
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