Teaching the rules....one coach at a time!

[Andy]

Last night I am working an 18u city league game solo. This league is very relaxed, mostly used by B level teams and HS freshman/JV teams as a developmental league.

The play - R1 on 3rd, 1 out. B2 hits a line shot between F8 and F9, R1 scores easily. I am watching BR run the bases and see that she steps right over second base on her way to third. Everybody in the park, including the offensive coaches, saw this. BR stops at third, ball is returned to F1 in the circle. Defensive coach yells out to his players to appeal the runner missing second and F1 starts to throw the ball to F6 standing on second base. Coach yells out, "Just tell the umpire!" F1 looks at me and says, "She missed second base." I ring up the out.

Offensive coach starts to tell me that they never threw the ball to second, so his runner can't be out, I tell him that the appeal was proper, lets have a batter. After the half inning was over, I approached him and his staff and explained a proper appeal to them. Of course, I got the look of dumbfounded expression, followed by "Are you sure? I thought that they had to throw the ball to the base!"