I'm coaching a 10U travel team in VA. I don't have a lot of softball experience, having played just a few years growing up.
We were playing our first practice game this weekend and were up to bat. Bases are loaded (lots of walks) with one out. Our batter hits a ground ball to the pitcher who throws home for the out for the second out. The opposing coach yells to his team to come off the field because he thinks it is the third out. Our team is confused and all base runners go into the duggout. After about a minute, our coaches discussed and realized there were only two outs. We had the 3 girls who should have been on base go back to their bases. The other coach argued that since our runners had gone into the duggout and left the base paths, they shouldn't be allowed to return.
What is the correct ruling?
Ashley
We were playing our first practice game this weekend and were up to bat. Bases are loaded (lots of walks) with one out. Our batter hits a ground ball to the pitcher who throws home for the out for the second out. The opposing coach yells to his team to come off the field because he thinks it is the third out. Our team is confused and all base runners go into the duggout. After about a minute, our coaches discussed and realized there were only two outs. We had the 3 girls who should have been on base go back to their bases. The other coach argued that since our runners had gone into the duggout and left the base paths, they shouldn't be allowed to return.
What is the correct ruling?
Ashley