Catcher's Obstruction: Killed too Soon? Options?

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Manny A

18U rec game, and I'm solo. Bases loaded, no outs. Batter hits a grounder to F3 playing in, and I clearly hear the bat hit the catcher's glove as well. I signal the delayed-dead ball. Rather than going home with it (it IS rec ball), F3 moves over and applies a tag on the BR.

As soon as the tag is made, I kill play and award the BR first base. That brings out the defensive coach, who wants to know why. I explain the situation to him, letting him know that technically, I should have called time and then give the offensive coach the option of accepting the penalty or the play. But I went ahead and applied the penalty since it was a no-brainer on what the offensive coach would choose.

The offensive coach heard the discussion, and wanted further clarification on the options (so much for being a no-brainer...) So I explained the options--the play (batter is out on the tag, but the runners advance) or the penalty (batter is awarded first, all forced runners advance)--and he went with my call.

Between innings, I thought more about the play. After F3 tagged the BR, she was about to throw home to make a play on R1 coming from third. Should I have allowed play to continue til the end, since there was the possibility of an errant throw? Or did I kill it appropriately since the BR was put out, and she was the offended player? And should I have not made the call and gone ahead to explain the options to the offensive coach?

I think the DDB idea is to let the entire play finish.