Scoring the infield fly that drops cleanly

Another infield fly question, this is one that could probably only happen in 10u.
Bases loaded, no outs, popup just in front of second base. FU calls infield fly immediately. 4, 6, and 8 (it's 10u) can't reach the ball. Ball hits ground, takes strange hop that nobody fields, and all three runners score after 4 throws the ball to 5 after the runner had already rounded third.
How is this scored beyond the initial IF for the batter? This is one I hope I never have to see again, at least for us. We had a 5-up rule, so the third run didn't count, and the inning ended after this play. I ruled the runs unearned as by definition this is a routine ball that someone should have caught, but I'm stumped on whether there is an error (logically there should be one I think) and which fielder gets the error. 4 was arguably closest but I know her speed and she was never going to catch this one, while 6 arguably had the better angle.

Looking forward to hearing any opinions.

No E for anybody for the the ball dropping untouched. No E4 for the mental mistake of throwing behind the runner. All runs scored are cheap, but earned!

Elk Grove Hurricane said:

I ruled the runs unearned as by definition this is a routine ball that someone should have caught

Click to expand...

I see so much of this on this board, but that's never, ever, an error. You even said they "can't reach the ball."

If you can't even decide who should get the fielding error on a play like this, that's a good clue that there probably shouldn't be an error.

Can't speak to what else yo use on the board, coach but I can explain to you my reasoning: 1) An infield fly is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive or an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort. 2) This ball was obviously not caught. 3) Runners moved up on a batted ball where the batter was ruled out on. There was no sac fly, no sac bunt, no throw that initially allowed a runner to move up, just a ball hitting dirt that took a crazy hop. 4) So, the issue is, what do you call this?
There is a misconception that errors only occur on balls that are touched by a fielder, thus the issue here is whether I should rule a play that, by definition, should have resulted in a fly ball out an error and, if not, what is it? Scorekeepers have to account for all movement of runners and the pitcher gets the benefit of the doubt in almost every instance. I instinctively believed that our 2B was not going to catch the ball because I know her limits, but the field ump's judgment is the one who matters on this play and he called infield fly. Thus, what I think our fielder could or could not do doesn't really matter.
Not sure if this helps, not trying to be snarky at all so I hope you didn't take this any way other than my attempt to explain what I was thinking.

I am sure there is a technical answer but in my book it's an E-6 if it was truly a routine fly ball as determined by the umpire. There is no way I am putting those runs on the pitcher (earned).

If it wasn't a routine out put the error on the umpire. E-U.

No adults on our Team wants to keep score, 1st game DD tried to give me the book and I told her I did not know how to do it.

Players are keeping score now, 16 or 17 year olds.

DD was keeping score so I went into dugout to help her, you liar!

I do like knowing how to score things after the fact, sure there would have bunch of random lines in scoreboard. We need lozza bck.

I had that similar issue - but I wasn't really trying to determine errors so much.
I use Game Changer and I was able to mark the out due to IF, but as far as the runners scoring and moving - I just ended up putting other and writing it in. Now that I think about it, I could have had my runners score on throw - since the girl who dropped it did try to get the runner at 1st out at 2nd.
If I still tried to score it in a real book I think I would have had issues. Maybe add it to the notes at the bottom

Remember that errors are physical, not mental.