ASA Lookback Rule

[David Emerling]

Need some opinions on this play: (ASA 18U tournament in St. Louis)

Runner on 3rd. Batter receives a walk. The ball is promptly returned to the pitcher within the circle. Runner on 3rd is off the bag about 10-feet poised to go home, watching the pitcher closely. BR never stops at 1st and continues on to 2nd, meanwhile, the pitcher looks on from within the circle. The pitcher is concerned the runner from 3rd will attempt to score if she makes a play on the BR. Basically, the pitcher and runner at 3rd have a stare down, but neither makes a move. The BR arrives at 2nd base, standing up, with no play having been made on her. The other runner simply returns to 3rd.

The defense wants the runner on 3rd called out on the "Lookback Rule", claiming she was off the base while the pitcher was in the circle with the ball.

The defense claims that a play was in progress since the BR never STOPPED at first, therefore, ALL runners were free to do whatever they wanted. They claimed that the BR, by continuing to run, caused the play to remain live and that the defense couldn't "freeze" other runners while another runner was free to advance.

Basically the argument came down to this:

1. The defense acknowledged that the BR was free to advance despite the ball being in the circle, however, the other runner had to either advance or return to third or be subject to being called out for a "Lookback Rule" violation.

2. The offense claimed that if one runner was free to advance then all runners were free to advance. Had the BR stopped at 1st and the other runner remained off the bag, then she could have been called out for a violation. But the BR never stopped! That kept the play live. The pitcher cannot use the "Lookback Rule" to freeze runners as long as one runner is legally continuing her advance. Theoretically, the BR could have run completely around the bases and scored while the pitcher looked on with the ball in the circle. If that is so then, obviously, the runner at 3rd would be free to advance as well.

The umpires consulted with one another and decided not to call out any runners and claimed there was no "Lookback Rule" violation.

The defense protested the ruling claiming that the rule had been misapplied.

The defense ultimately won the game and withdrew the protest.

It would have been interesting had it been resolved.

Any opinions?

David Emerling
Memphis, TN