Base running rules question

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Mar 9, 2015
321
18
Went to watch a local high school game this evening. Saw a play and wanted to get clarification...

Girl on 2nd base. Batter hits a ground ball towards center field, second base player stops ball and immediately throws ball back to pitcher in the circle. The girl on 2nd advances to 3rd base and holds. The batter ran through 1st (did not round bag). The girl then jogs straight back to first base but about a step from 1st immediately runs to 2nd base. The pitcher was in the circle and made no attempt to make any play. My question is this: can the runner on 1st advance to 2nd base? The umps let her advance to 2nd base, opposing team discussed with umps but would not overturn.
 
Mar 24, 2014
450
18
I would think if the pitcher has the ball in the circle and is making no attempt to make a throw, when the player ran through first base, turned around and was going back to first must stay first base. If runner would have rounded first base, they would have to commit to either first or second base. But since the runner did not round first base, and was jogging back to first has to stay there.
 

obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
0
Boston, MA
if the runner didn't stop, I think she's ok to go to either base.
A college coach once told us of a legal trick play where the BR does just that- overrun 1B by a lot and immediately begin to return but taking her time. if the pitcher and the F4/F6 are not looking or covering, the BR breaks for 2B. This is an oversimplification and it's been a few years so I may have forgotten a detail but I believe the key is that the BR doesn't stop.
 
Last edited:

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
Went to watch a local high school game this evening. Saw a play and wanted to get clarification...

Girl on 2nd base. Batter hits a ground ball towards center field, second base player stops ball and immediately throws ball back to pitcher in the circle. The girl on 2nd advances to 3rd base and holds. The batter ran through 1st (did not round bag). The girl then jogs straight back to first base but about a step from 1st immediately runs to 2nd base. The pitcher was in the circle and made no attempt to make any play. My question is this: can the runner on 1st advance to 2nd base? The umps let her advance to 2nd base, opposing team discussed with umps but would not overturn.

Speaking NFHS

A BR who overruns 1B and:

Turns left and moves back toward the infield in any direction except directly toward 2B is committed to and must return to 1B.

Turns right is committed to and must return to 1B.

Doing otherwise is an LBR violation (assuming the LBR is in effect)

NFHS 8-7-4
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
The way I try and remember this is once the batter/runner touches first base (ball in the circle) she gets once decision and must stick to it.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Runner can over run 1st, then take off to 2nd from RF. Once she starts heading back towards 1st, she is committed and can not change her mind.
 
Sep 14, 2011
768
18
Glendale, AZ
if the runner didn't stop, I think she's ok to go to either base.
A college coach once told us of a legal trick play where the BR does just that- overrun 1B by a lot and immediately begin to return but taking her time. if the pitcher and the F4/F6 are not looking or covering, the BR breaks for 2B. This is an oversimplification and it's been a few years so I may have forgotten a detail but I believe the key is that the BR doesn't stop.

The rule is different in NCAA.

To Paraphrase: If the BR runs through first base and stays within three feet of the foul line (either way) while returning to first base, she is not committed to first base until she touches first base and may attempt to advance with liability to be put out.
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
Runner can over run 1st, then take off to 2nd from RF. Once she starts heading back towards 1st, she is committed and can not change her mind.

I don't think this is correct in HS? Why wouldn't this be a violation of LBR? It would appear that two decisions are being made here (decided to go to 2B and then decided to go back to 1B). I am assuming ball was in the circle when batter/runner hits first base (as in OP scenario).
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Assume ball in circle. Once they step towards 1st, they can not go to 2nd.

They can run to fence and then to 2nd as long as they do not go for 1st.
 

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