Batter receives a base on balls and walks to first base. After touching first base he steps off into foul territory (as if over running the base). The catcher throws the ball to the first baseman who quickly tags the runner. Is the runner out?

Under OBR, he is not out.

If he overran the base, he's out in FED, safe in the other codes.

If he stepped off, then he's out in all codes.

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If he stepped off, then he's out in all codes.

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Please explain. Are you assuming that "stepping off" is abandoning the bases?

If he stepped off, then he's out in all codes.

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Please explain. Are you assuming that "stepping off" is abandoning the bases? [/B][/QUOTE]

No. I was assuming the sentence, "The catcher throws the ball to the first baseman who quickly tags the runner" from the original post applied.

This little league ball and this is only my second season umpiring. This did not occur in a game I was officiating, but I was asked by a friend what the ruling should be in this situation. As it occurred in his sons game. He also told me later that after the boy took his base on balls, he immediately stepped off base into foul territory. Then he bent down to tie his shoe. And was tagged and called out. I could not find any specific mention in the rule book for this case, unless I'm overlooking something.

LL 7.08(c) Any runner is out when -

that runner is tagged, when the ball is alive, while off base.

EXCEPTION A batter-runner cannot be tagged out after overruning or oversliding first base if said batter-runner returns immediately to the base.

(2004 LL PLAYING RULES)