Help me out here.

[kono]

Originally posted by greymule
Wow. Don't do LL so didn't know any of that. I assumed LL was like softball—you're out if you leave too soon.

What about R1 leaves 1B too soon, B1 hits ground ball to F6, who makes play too late at 2B? Both R1 and B1 safe?

Yup. If I had a slow runner, I'd have him leaving early all the time - for exactly the reason you mentioned. Worst thing that can happen is he gets pushed back to the original base. Some blues have suggested that if a team does this too often, a warning can be issued for violating the spirit of the game (or some nonsense like that). I agree, I don't like it - but I don't see much latitude for a warning other than 9.01(c).

LL Softball is similar to ASA softball (at least in this respect). The rule I quoted above is strictly for baseball. The theory (I think) is that at the next level of baseball, leading is a good thing. This comes as close to the next level as possible without penalizing young developing catchers.

On the softball side - if you leave before the ball reaches the batter, you are out. Older age levels allow the runner to leave after F1 releases the ball.

-Kono