leaving a base early

[steveshane67]

ASA 8-7-R

Section 7. THE RUNNER IS OUT.
R. (Slow Pitch) When the runner fails to keep contact with the base to which
they are entitled until a pitched ball is batted, touches the ground, or reaches
home plate.
EXCEPTION: (16-Inch Slow Pitch) A runner may leave a base as soon as
the ball is put in play.

I didnt find anything procedural about how to handle this sit. Is the batted ball still live/dead, if not hit, is it a ball/strike/no pitch?

on an unrelated note, Ive never seen 16" played, but are runners allowed to leave the base basically whenever they want? (ie doesnt ball is put in play happen when the pitcher still has the ball on the mound?)