Obstruction
 

Runner is heading to 3rd but runs into 2nd baseman standing on 2nd. They do their dance and runner decides to stay at 2nd. Was past 2nd about 3 feet after the dance. Ball comes back to infield with no plays anywhere, just back to pitcher since no one was running.

The ruling was there was obstruction but it was of no consequence because runner chose to go back to 2nd. That was the explanation.

I'm think'n the explanation should have been obstruction, the runner is placed where the umpire deems he should be placed had there been no obstruction.

No this doesn't foresee the "3rd demension" in that if the runner hadn't been obstructed there "may" have been a play at 3rd since he may have continued to 3rd. Does any of this play into where the runner is placed?

Or of course, since the runner didn't try for 3rd, he gets 2nd and no awards.

"The base the runner tried for" has zero bearing on what the award should be. Maybe she didn't try for third because after the defender had obstructed her, slowing her down, tieing her up her at second and breaking her stride and momentum, she didn't think she could safely make it to third.

The award is as you mentioned- "whichever base the umpire judges the runner would have reached, had she not been obstructed".

This whole "she didn't try for it" notion comes up time and again. It just simply isn't the case or how the rule is written or interpreted. Such an interpretation would almost beg the fielders to obstruct the runner! Just stop their advance and they'd never be awarded the next base.

Rant on!

It actually stuns me how often this exact argument comes up with OTHER UMPIRES. Otherwise solid and intelligent umpires who insist that the runner has to try for a base to ever have it awarded. It's obscene. Even after explaining to them that if their way of looking at things was right, I'd teach my first basemen to tackle every player that hits an apparent extra-base hit. The response is always, "Well, that's different" No, it's not. There's one rule that applies to that obstruction and all other obstructions. Award the base she would have achieved, people!

Rant off!

"Coach, the solution is to tell your players to get out of the way. You'll go farther instructing your players than you will arguing with me."

..and the benefit of the doubt goes to the baserunner!