Advanced or not advanced?

[tankmjg24]

Ok, so we are all aware that you cannot run the bases in reverse order or steal a base going backwards. High School baseball game so FED rules if it matters. R1 and batter swings and hits a foul tip but the noise produced from the bat sounds as if he hit a homerun. R1 steals second on the pitch and F2 goes to throw but could not get a hold of the baseball so he does not throw to 2nd but instead tosses the ball back to the pitcher. Fans for the defensive team begin yelling that it was a foul ball and that the runner has to return to 1st. F1 is on the rubber and the new hitter is begging to step into the box when all of the sudden I see the base runner jogging back to 1st. F2 jumps up and yells to F1 to throw the runner out. F1 kind of gets a deer in the headlights look but eventually legally steps off the rubber and throws over to his first baseman but not in time to get the retreating runner. This is where the fun begins. So the offensive coach comes down and is arguing that the fans tricked his runner into thinking that it was a foul ball and that he was legally entitled to 2nd. I disagree and tell the coach that his player should no better than to listen to fans and that he is just trying to pull one over on me to get his runner advanced. None of the officials told him to return so we were not going to place him on second. The coach argues no further and returns to his box. Now the defensive coach come out and wants the runner called out for running the bases in reverse order. His argument was that the runner legally stole second and then ran the bases in reverse order once his pitcher was legally on the mound. My answer to the coach is that the initial play had not ended and that the runner was free to do as he pleased and to be happy that the runner was back on first. He then says ok and jogs back to the dugout and the game continues. This is the first time something like this has happened to me and it got me thinking. Did I handle this correctly or should something different have occurred?

[umpjim]

I had the same thing happen. He didn't run the bases in reverse order to confuse the defense or make a travesty of the game so I left him at 1B.

[rcaverly]

There is such a thing as fan interference/obstruction, but not in this case.(2-21-3, 2-22-1) Maybe if some action by one or more fans prevented a runner from advancing after an apparent game-winner I could see calling it.

I would penalize a runner who leaves a base to which he is legally entitled and attempts to return to a previously acquired base once F1 comes in contact with the pitcher's plate and in possession of a live ball. I would call him out for abandoning his effort to "touch the next base." (8-4-2p)

All references are NFHS.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by rcaverly

I would penalize a runner who leaves a base to which he is legally entitled and attempts to return to a previously acquired base once F1 comes in contact with the pitcher's plate and in possession of a live ball. I would call him out for abandoning his effort to "touch the next base." (8-4-2p)

Nope. This is not abandonment.

[BretMan]

All I have is a DMR.

(Dumb Move by the Runner)

[tankmjg24]

My thoughts exactly on the runner being dumb. I think the hitting team's coach was annoyed that his runner returned and was looking at an easy route to return him to second and I think the defensive coach was looking for a cheap out. After each had their say they returned to the coach's box/dugout never to be heard from again haha.

Now to mix it up a bit. Had the pitcher committed an illegal move in throwing to first would you have signaled a balk?