What do we do with the extra runner?

[WestMichBlue]

No outs, R1 at 2B, R2 at 1st, B1 hits ball into outfield. R1 heads home; R2, seeing the throw go home, continues on to 3B. Great throw, coach is screaming for R1 to come back, she puts on brakes and gets caught in run-down. You signal obstruction, and she is tagged out before reaching 3B. You call dead ball and protect R1 back to 3B. But R2 is already there! Now what? Do you send her back to 2B? Can the defense tag her while both runners are standing on 3B and get an out?

Change the play as follows. R1 is obstructed, you signal obstruction, but R1 gets back to 3B safely. Now you have two runners on 3B. F5 runs over and tags base, and R1 and R1 (and maybe the coach just for good measure. LOL)! Dead Ball? Live Ball? Somebody out? Somebody Safe? You make the call!

[Steve M]

3B still belongs to R1, so R2 is in jeopardy in both examples. R2 must make it back to 2B on her own, it is not an awarded base. Now, if the defense tags R1 for an out before tagging R2, then it's a dead ball due to the obstruction and we end up with R1 back on 3B and place R2 back on 2B. If, however, the defense does not tag R1, there is no dead ball, so R2 may be tagged. Yes, the defense may tag R2 while R2 and R1 are standing on 3B - remember, R2 does not have rights to that base.

Steve M

[IRISHMAFIA]

Speaking ASA

Originally posted by WestMichBlue
No outs, R1 at 2B, R2 at 1st, B1 hits ball into outfield. R1 heads home; R2, seeing the throw go home, continues on to 3B. Great throw, coach is screaming for R1 to come back, she puts on brakes and gets caught in run-down. You signal obstruction, and she is tagged out before reaching 3B. You call dead ball and protect R1 back to 3B. But R2 is already there! Now what? Do you send her back to 2B? Can the defense tag her while both runners are standing on 3B and get an out?

In this situation, the defense cannot get an out. The ball is dead the instant R1 is tagged out. If you believed R1 would have reached home with the obstruction, give her home. If not, return R1 to 3B and R2 to 2B.

Change the play as follows. R1 is obstructed, you signal obstruction, but R1 gets back to 3B safely. Now you have two runners on 3B. F5 runs over and tags base, and R1 and R1 (and maybe the coach just for good measure. LOL)! Dead Ball? Live Ball? Somebody out? Somebody Safe? You make the call!

R2 is in jeopardy and can be ruled out if tagged while not in contact with 2B.