Rookie Question

[Umpteenth]

Rookie here, not ashamed to admit it. Glad I found this forum; I read frequently and only want to improve my skills. Which leads to my situation tonight. ASA, Men's SP, Wreck league. I'm BU.

Visitor at bat, 1 out, R1 on 2nd, R2 on 1st. B4 hits fly ball to center field, which is caught for 2nd out, R1 left 2nd early and advanced to 3rd, R2 advanced to 2nd. After my partner called time and the ball is dead, D3 says to me, Blue did he leave early? I banged R1 for 3rd out, as he did leave early.

Offensive coach then complained that a proper appeal had not been made. Admittedly, the defensive player did not state, "I want to appeal" and did not use the word appeal. Rule 8 7 F states, the runner is out "When a runner leaves a base to advance to another base before a caught fly ball has touched a fielder, providing the ball is returned to the infield and properly appealed." This requirement was met.
Effect 3 states: "(Dead Ball Appeal) Once the ball has been returned to the infield and time is called, any infielder with or without possession of the ball may make a verbal appeal on a runner missing a base or leaving a base too soon on a caught fly ball. No runner may leave a base during this period as the ball remains dead until the next pitch." I feel this requirement was met.

My partner and I discussed the call and he agreed that R1 had left early, and therefore the out remained.

I feel I made the right call, but I ask myself now, was the play "properly appealed"? There was no other play made, time had been called. There was no throw back to 2nd base, which is not required. So, on an appeal, does the player have to state, "I want to appeal"? I'm not finding in the rule book about making a "proper appeal".

After the game, the Offensive coach agreed that the call would not have affected the outcome of the game, but still insisted a proper appeal had not been made. I won't lose sleep over this, but I want to learn it and avoid similar situations. As I've learned from reading here, it's all about preventive umpiring.