Missed Base or Nothing?

[mrm21711]

I posted this one on the ABUA forum, so sorry if some see it twice. I would like as much feedback as possible.

NFHS Game. Runner on 1B, batter hits a home run over the fence. Runner on 1B is past second and thinking the ball is caught, attempts to go back to first but runs in front of second base without touching it. He realizes it was a home run, and then runs around all the bases in proper order touching 2B, 3B & HP in order. Could he be appelaled for not running the bases in reverse order, or does that apply to a caught ball. Rule references would help....our rule interpreter has spent 2 weeks on this with no concrete answer yet. I think its "nothing" because he touched 2B again on his way back around the bases. Thanks.

[DG]

Originally posted by mrm21711
I posted this one on the ABUA forum, so sorry if some see it twice. I would like as much feedback as possible.

NFHS Game. Runner on 1B, batter hits a home run over the fence. Runner on 1B is past second and thinking the ball is caught, attempts to go back to first but runs in front of second base without touching it. He realizes it was a home run, and then runs around all the bases in proper order touching 2B, 3B & HP in order. Could he be appelaled for not running the bases in reverse order, or does that apply to a caught ball. Rule references would help....our rule interpreter has spent 2 weeks on this with no concrete answer yet. I think its "nothing" because he touched 2B again on his way back around the bases. Thanks.

He does not have to touch 2B again, he has already done so, he just took a detour on his way to 3B. As long as he touches 2B, 3B, and home he is ok. The fact that he touched 2B twice would be something not covered by the rules. If the ball were caught he would have to touch 2B on his way back to 1B. Running bases backwards is an issue if the runner is making a travesty of the game, and it does not appear to be the case here.