Skunk in the outfeild in Little League

[bhumpire25]

I would like to know if this play is legal in L.L play.Runner/runners in scoring position and batter runner goes to 1st and then runs out to right feild. Is this legal?

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by bhumpire25

I would like to know if this play is legal in L.L play.Runner/runners in scoring position and batter runner goes to 1st and then runs out to right feild. Is this legal?

This play has been discussed at length.

Try this link: Leading

[Dave Reed]

The bolded section below shows that the skunk play is legal:

From the LL rule book:
7.08 -- Any runner is out when -
(a) (1) running more than three feet away from his/her baseline to avoid being tagged, unless such action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A runner’s baseline is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base which he/she is attempting to reach;

and from the Rules Instruction Manual:
INSTRUCTOR COMMENTS:
⇒ Be aware that the base runner makes his/her own baseline as he/she progresses (or regresses) around the bases. Depending on the circumstances, his/her baseline frequently may change as the play develops.

[bhumpire25]

Originally Posted by MichaelVA2000

This play has been discussed at length.

Try this link: Leading

I never heard of this play until l heard a couple of coaches talking about it last night. All refrences I can find have to do with Pro,Fed or softball. i was hoping to find out Little League where a runner can not lead and the batter runnner just tags 1st and then runs out to the right feilder.

[SAump]

Originally Posted by bhumpire25

I never heard of this play until l heard a couple of coaches talking about it last night. All refrences I can find have to do with Pro,Fed or softball. i was hoping to find out Little League where a runner can not lead and the batter runnner just tags 1st and then runs out to the right feilder.

Did the link answer your questions/concerns or are you still wondering about the nuances of this particular play?

[bhumpire25]

I still do not see anyway that batter runner can run to first base and then run out to the outfield and not be out for not returning to his base or continuing to second in little league where their is no leading. I guess I will have to find another way to research this.

[ODJ]

Originally Posted by bhumpire25

I still do not see anyway that batter runner can run to first base and then run out to the outfield and not be out for not returning to his base or continuing to second in little league where their is no leading. I guess I will have to find another way to research this.

In that case, yes, I'd say he's out when the pitcher has the ball on the mound ready to pitch to the next batter. Other codes, it's just a big lead off of first.

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by bhumpire25

I never heard of this play until l heard a couple of coaches talking about it last night. All refrences I can find have to do with Pro,Fed or softball. i was hoping to find out Little League where a runner can not lead and the batter runnner just tags 1st and then runs out to the right feilder.

bhumpire25

Here’s more “skunk in the outfield” information:
http://hit2win.com/trickplay.html

[SAump]

Originally Posted by bhumpire25

I still do not see anyway that batter runner can run to first base and then run out to the outfield and not be out for not returning to his base or continuing to second in little league where their is no leading. I guess I will have to find another way to research this.

Wish I could help but my search of "skunk" on this website provided very little of value. Stick around, some of the LL "ummps" may direct you to better discussion on a LL website. This site deals mostly w/ rules. Many here don't discuss game strategies; other than throw the ball, hit the ball, and run. Somehow, somewhere, somebody manages to hang their ID on that one little playbook. BTW, girls play under modified rules, take off for 2nd or return to base. How clever is that?

All I know, as ODJ alluded too, most LL teams don't throw the ball back to their pitcher while the skunk is running around the OF. You would think the DC had the presence of mind to have his team throw the ball to the catcher, have him hold on to it, and request time. You know that most LL teams will give up 2nd base anyway on the next pitch. R1 will steal 2B and catcher will return ball to F1.

I would grant time and exchange words w/ the OC unless we were playing 5 inngs in 1.5 hours. Then I would tell the catcher, "No! Hold on to the ball son and lets wait right here." But that is strictly how I would handle it as an ump if the skunk's team were losing. If they were winning, other than shake his hand after the game, what would you do?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by SAump

Wish I could help but my search of "skunk" on this website provided very little of value. Stick around, some of the LL "ummps" may direct you to better discussion on a LL website. This site deals mostly w/ rules. Many here don't discuss game strategies; other than throw the ball, hit the ball, and run. Somehow, somewhere, somebody manages to hang their ID on that one little playbook. BTW, girls play under modified rules, take off for 2nd or return to base. How clever is that?

All I know, as ODJ alluded too, most LL teams don't throw the ball back to their pitcher while the skunk is running around the OF. You know that most LL teams will give up 2nd base anyway on the next pitch. R1 will steal 2B and catcher will return ball to F1. You would think the DC had the presence of mind to have his team throw the ball to the catcher, have him hold on to it, and request time.

I would grant time and exchange words w/ the OC unless we were playing 5 inngs in 1.5 hours. Then I would tell the catcher, "No! Hold on to the ball son and lets wait right here." But that is strictly how I would handle it as an ump if the skunk's team were losing. If they were winning, other than shake his hand after the game, what would you do?

I don't know where the "ummps" thing comes from. I imagine you're trying to get a dig on LL umpires, but then again you'd grant the defense time with a runner in the outfield, so maybe those in glass houses....

Anyhow, to answer the question:

The runner certainly can go to the outfield, however once the pitcher and the catcher are in position and the runners stop, all runners not on their base must commit one way or another or a 7.13 violation has occurred.

This brings me to ODJ's comment: "Leaving early" never causes an out in Little League. It usually requires that the runner be returned to the original base, but has other penalties (other runners can be returned or limited in their advance) as well. It's not an uncomplicated rule, but one thing it doesn't yield is an out.

The best thing the defense can do, again, is to ignore the runner. One the pitcher and catcher are in place, 7.13 applies and the umpire will drop a red flag and penalize accordingly. And the offense will stop doing this, especially since there is a penalty in LL that could hurt the team batting.

This is a perfectly reasonable RULES question perfectly reasonable for this site, OP, despite what others in this thread have said.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bhumpire25

I still do not see anyway that batter runner can run to first base and then run out to the outfield and not be out for not returning to his base or continuing to second in little league where their is no leading. I guess I will have to find another way to research this.

Read 7.13. If this is really Little League (R), then there is NEVER an out for not returning or advancing. Just a red flag and return the runner after the pitch. If the pitch is batted, follow the instruction in 7.13.

[bhumpire25]

Gentlemen,
Thanks for a little more information on this. I do not do much Little League but help out when they are short.
Thanks agian.