NFHS: How Long Do You Wait?

[Manny A]

Discussion over on FB concerning this case play from the NFHS Case Book:

9.1.1 SITUATION N:

In the last of the seventh with two outs, the score tied and the bases loaded, B6 receives ball four to force R1 home. Because B6 assumes that the game is over, she fails to go to first and leaves the field. The ball is then held at first.

RULING: B6 is out and the run does not score. (8-6-7 Penalty; 8-3-11; 9-1-1 Exception d)

I'm not so sure why they chose to rule this as an appeal play. The BR is out for abandonment when "she fails to go to first and leaves the field." The PU should have called the out then, and not wait until the defense appeals by holding the ball at first base.

But the real issue that is being debated is this: Suppose the defense doesn't appeal since the winning run scored, and the BR doesn't go to first base to fulfill her required advance because she's at home celebrating the win. As the PU, what should you do? Do you just go ahead and leave as the home team celebrates and the visitors move off the field to set up for the post-game ritual? Or do you still have an obligation to stick around and wait to see if that BR will ever touch first, and if she doesn't, do you STILL wait until she finally enters dead ball territory to rule her out for abandonment, and set up for the eighth inning?

Remember that this situation is not one that requires an appeal to rule the out. So the fact that the infielders have left fair territory and the catcher has left her normal fielding position doesn't negate the fact that the BR is still liable for being ruled out for abandonment. If the defense had appealed that she failed to advance to first base while she was hanging around home plate in the celebration, I don't believe the umpire can rule her out because her advance to first is a base award due to Ball Four. The only way she can be ruled out for failing to advance is by entering DBT under high school rules.

What say you?