Interesting End to Game

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Once the runner left the area of the plate the umpire should have left the field, unless stopped. Do not just stand there waiting for someone to do something. Treat it just as you would have if the runner had touched the plate.

The runner is assumed to have touched the plate, so he can never be out for abandonment.

Once the runner starts returning, the defense can't make a dead-ball appeal (in this situation).

Again, this is coming from a softball umpire who does very little, baseball, but only at the youth level, using NFHS rules.

Once the runner missed the play and no play was being made on the runner who missed home plate, the PU should pause momentarily, then signal safe. It is up to the defensive team to notice and properly appeal the missed plate. The slight hesitation could be a clue to the defense the plate was missed. If the defense does not know the runner missed the plate, the PU, by waiting and standing there is in fact aiding the defense by letting them know that the runner must have missed the plate.