Batter runner out at first

[Rita C]

Where in the NFHS rulebook does it specifically say that the batter/runner is out when the base is tagged before the batter/runner reaches the base?

I've looked in rule 8-4-1 and found nothing. The next section covers the runner.

A friend of mine called me today. He saw a ground ball hit fair to the first baseman take a bad hop. The ball went into foul territory, where the fielder recovered the ball. He had the ball in his glove and tagged the base with his bare hand. The umpires called the batter/runner safe because the fielder didn't touch the bag with the ball.

Rita

PS. I don't do high school ball and have an old book.