Base abandonment?
 

Here's the situation: Runner on second base 1 out, Fly ball to center field, Center fielder catches the ball throws the ball back into the pitcher during this the runner at second thinks that there are 3 outs and starts to leave the field. His steps take him towards the 1st. base dugout, the runner leaves the baseline taking about 6-7 steps. His base coach yells for him to get back on the base, as he returns to the base the home plate umpire calls him out. I agree with the call but the ump got hammered by the other teams coaches. Is the call correct?

Did the PU call him out for leaving the basepath? If so, then it is the wrong call. The baserunner establishes the base path when a play is being made on him. There are no base lines in the field.

No, I don't think the call was correct. The runner should have been afforded the right to re-establish himself as a runner as long as he didn't leave the fair portion of the infield.


Tim.

What rules?

The rules all have some statement to the effect of "obviously abandoning his effort to touch the next base." For OBR, JEA gives an "authoritative opinion" that the runner must reach foul territory (iirc). There's no such opinion / interp for other codes.

The umpire's call can certainly be supported.

Unless the runner A) was avoiding a tag, or B) left the field of play ... there's no rule that has this runner being called out for wandering off of their base.

In the absence of anything in NCAA on this, Bob, they would defer to an OBR interpretation.

Agreed. The question is whether the OP's league uses JEA as "interpretation."

That would, of course, be important to know.