Retouch base after foul ball

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by onetime1

Was watching a high school baseball game here in Wisconsin over the weekend. Crazy scenerio occurred to end the game. Score is 2-1 home team in the lead top of the 7th. Bases loaded one out. The batter hits a long foul ball down the right field line. All 3 runners are tearing around the bases when the home plate ump yells "foul" runners return to their bases. After the next pitch which was a ball low the base umpire comes flying in toward the plate and calls 2 of the baserunners out for failing to retouch their respective bases following a foul ball. What a weak ending to this exciting game. Is this correct? Is there a rule that supports doing this?

How did the protest go?

8-2-2 The umpire will not make the ball live until the runner returns to the appropriate base.

Guess who blew it - not the runner. And there's no penalty specified.

ALSO, in any event any missed base or failure to tag is an appeal by the defense. The umpire cannot initiate it on his own.

AND, no appeal can be made after the next pitch or play.

Bottom line: BLOWN ROYALLY!