Baserunning Question

[SamNVa]

Situation: 1 out, R1. BR hits a slow roller to F6 who's only option is to throw BR out at 1st.

Meanwhile R1 has reached 2nd, but mistakenly thinking there are 3 outs begins walking back to the 1st base dugout being largely ignored by the sleeping defense. The first base coach finally gets her attention and she scurries the last 10 feet back to 1st before the defense can make a play on her.

The defense then throws the ball to F3 who tags the runner and appeals that she is no longer allowed to be at 1st since she has already touched 2nd.

What's the call?

(Note: R1 left 2nd while F3 still had the ball, so the "look-back" rule wouldn't apply. (I think?) )

[IRISHMAFIA]

Sam,

Speaking ASA

Assuming the BR has already been put out at 1B and R1 is in contact with the base at the time of the tag, she is safe. The force was relieved when the BR was eliminated.

Other than an umpire deeming her actions intentional for the purpose of confusing the defense or making a travesty of the game, (Rule 8.3.D) there is no rule forbidding her action.

The "look back" rule would not be in effect unless R1 had stopped once the ball was in the pitcher's hand inside the circle and then failed to immediately commit to a direction.

[Roger Greene]

Sam,

If R1 obviously abandoned her attempt to reach the next base, and begins heading to her dugout, then you may declare her out for the act of abandonment.
See FED 8-4-2r, USSSA 9.13.Q.

If the runner had passed beyond second base, and then began to return toward first, and had not retouched 2nd on the return, you could recognize the defensive appeal of touching 2nd while holding the ball as a missed base appeal. After the BR was put out, R1 could return and the force would have been removed,if she properly retouched, unless you ruled that she was running bases in reverse to confuse opponents or to make a travesty of the game,(FED 8-4-2q, USSSA 9.13.P.)

The moral of the story is if the offense thinks there are 3 outs,you don't want to dissapoint them. You can't make any money calling safes and balls!!! (big G)

Now, if you want to throw a monkey in the works, what would you do if the reason R1 abandoned her baserunning was that the defensive team began leaving the infield thinking that they had recorded 3 outs?

Roger Greene,
Member UT

[IRISHMAFIA]

Speaking ASA

That depends on what happens during the period of occurance. In ASA, you cannot call the runner out until they have entered dead ball territory, OR are aided by someone other than a live runner. So you hope that she runs to the dugout to get her glove and return the helmet. If someone meets her with her equipment, you hope that the coach or another player lays hands on the runner.

The defense has no right to appeal once all the infielders including the pitcher and catcher have left fair territory. If know one notices, you tell the catcher to throw the ball down and move on with the game. Once you get that first pitch, legal or illegal, any objection is moot.

Of course, no matter how you handle it, you will only be half right :-)

Mike