Confused about ruling

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Feb 12, 2016
14
1
North Carolina
Could someone enlighten me and tell me if this was correct.....I helped coach a 6u Babe Ruth rec all star game last night and we were on defense. Bases loaded with 1 out. Batter hits a short pop fly which bounces and then fielded by P. Runner on 3rd starts to run, takes a few steps and then returns to 3rd. P runs to 3rd and tags the runner still standing on the bag, then we instructed her to step on 3rd base also (none of the runners tried to advance because they thought it was a foul ball.) We're all thinking double play, tagged the runner who was supposed to go home and then stepped on 3rd to get the force from 2nd. However, after a delay of game and protest, the ruling was the runner on 3rd was safe because she was on the bag and did not have to advance at that point. We were told had we stepped on home, she would have been out, but choosing not to run was an option. However, they did call out the runner on 2nd. Does this make sense to ANYBODY?? Runner doesn't have to advance on what would essentially have been a ground ball at the time?? Somebody please explain this to me if this is correct. Thanks!
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
I may be wrong, but I see a double play. It's a force play, which means the the runners MUST advance.
 
Aug 29, 2011
2,581
83
NorCal
It depends on the order.

If the P touched 3rd while in possession of the ball before tagging the runner then the correct ruling was made.

If the P tagged runner first she is out because she did not have the right to the base and runner on 2nd should be out when P then stepped on 3rd getting the force play.

Very smart pitcher for 6U is she did it in the correct order. That or just dumb luck.

But seriously protesting at 6U?
 
Mar 13, 2010
960
0
Columbus, Ohio
The definition of a force out is when a runner is forced to advance due to the batter becoming a batter-runner. That's exactly what happened here.

The runner on third was forced to advance. When a runner is forced, the base that they're being forced from no longer offers any protection from being tagged out.

Tagging this runner, even though she's standing on third base, would be an out. Then the second out would be another force out on the runner from second base.
 
Sep 14, 2011
768
18
Glendale, AZ
You mentioned the hit was a short pop fly. IF the infield fly rule is in effect, it is a possibility that that is what was enforced...even if that is the case, it seems as if it was not done correctly.

If an infield fly was declared, the batter-runner is out and all of the force plays are removed. Runners would need to be tagged off of a base to get an out. From your description and assuming an infield fly was declared, no outs were earned.

If this game played without the IFF rule...disregard the above.....:)
 
Aug 23, 2016
359
43
If an infield fly was declared, the batter-runner is out and all of the force plays are removed. Runners would need to be tagged off of a base to get an out. From your description and assuming an infield fly was declared, no outs were earned.

DD plays 8U in Southern California, and even in all-star play here there's no infield fly rule until 10U. How would you define a routine catch at 6U?

The only way the ruling makes sense is if the ump believed that the pitcher touched third base before tagging the runner, which would eliminate the force play on the runner at third. (And if the pitcher was running toward the base runner who was on the bag, I could easily imagine ways she could step on the base before making the tag.)
 
Nov 29, 2016
33
6
So what happened to the batter? If the bases were loaded and no one advanced there should be 2 people at first...
 

TMD

Feb 18, 2016
433
43
So what happened to the batter? If the bases were loaded and no one advanced there should be 2 people at first...

If the bases were loaded and the batter put a fair ball into play (not caught in the air for an out), the runners are forced to advance and the runner on 1 loses the protection of that base. If the batter/runner gets there before being put out, it is hers.

In the OP scenario, the double play ended the inning so the batter runner just runs hard through 1B like they're all taught to do and then heads to the dugout to get her mitt and play defense.
 

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