Same old walk

[UMP 64]

FP softball HS/NFHS rules.
Batter receives a walk, (ball 4). Is the batter/runner protected from being taged out by a def. player with the ball. if she runs past 1st base, turns left or right, and returns directly to 1st base, with no intent, fake or movement to do otherwise?
please site something (ie NFHS rule #) if possible.

We understant about the look back rule in effect, but about half of our association thinks she cannot step off 1st base and be protected.

I know this has probably been batted around 50 times.

[AtlUmpSteve]

NFHS 8-1-1(c); A batter becomes a batter-runner when a fourth ball is called by the umpire. NFHS 8-8-9; A Runner is not out when a batter-runner overruns first base after touching it and returns directly to the base.

No rule contradicts this; batter-runners may overrun first base, getting a walk makes her a batter-runner. No exceptions.

[Skahtboi]

It would seem, UMP 64, that about half of your association is incorrect on this situation.

[bbsbvb83]

I would be willing to bet that many of your fellow association members also umpire baseball. In that sport, when a batter - runner goes beyond first base on a base on balls, and is subsequently tagged while off the base, you have an out.

[BretMan]

Does half your association also call FED baseball?

In FED baseball, a walked batter is not protected from overrunning first base and may be tagged out if doing so.

Why they make this exception, I don't know. But they do and that's the way we have to call it!

(PS: bbsbvb83, we were posting our answers at the same time, making the same point. Would like to note that this ruling is specific to FED baseball and does not apply to other rule sets.)

[greymule]

In [baseball], when a batter - runner goes beyond first base on a base on balls, and is subsequently tagged while off the base, you have an out.

In Fed, but not in OBR.