Is awarded base mandatory?

[blueump]

Absolutely!

Home team comes up in their half of the inning and scores multiple runs now making a "game" of it. Suddenly you have the same identical play, but this time the player goes to second. What are you going to tell the visiting coach when he comes out to question why his girl only got first?

This may be uncomfortable for both teams, but let them know the rules, award the proper bases. Its the only way they may know what the real ruling should be!