I know that the rule book definition of "Force Out" in all of softball does not include the batter-runner at first base. However, if you dig around further in the book under some sanctions, you will find evidence where a batter-runner being retired at first base is considered a "force out".
For example, under NFHS, there's this (with my emphasis):
"8-6 A runner is out when:
"ART. 7 ... The runner fails to touch the intervening base or bases in regular or reverse order and the ball is returned to the infield and properly appealed. If the runner put out is the batter-runner at first base, or any other runner forced to advance because the batter became a batter-runner, this is a force out."
And in NCAA, there's this:
"12.10.1 A runner must touch each base in order (first, second, third and home plate) when she is advancing and the ball is in play or dead. All awarded bases also must be touched, and in legal order.
"EFFECT—(12.10.1 and 12.10.2)—For failure to touch a base when advancing or returning while the ball is in play, the runner is out if, before she reaches each untouched base, she is legally tagged or if the ball is held by a fielder on the base she failed to touch, including home plate (live-ball appeal). If the appealed runner is the batter-runner at first base, or any other base runner forced to advance, this is a force out and no runs would score if it was the third out."
And you have very similar language under the USA Softball rule book under Rule 8 Section 7:
"The Runner is Out:
"G. When the runner fails to touch a base or bases in regular or reverse order and the ball is returned to the infield and properly appealed. If the runner put out is the batter-runner at first base, or any other runner forced to advance because the batter became a batter-runner, this is a force out."
Bottom line: I have no idea how we should treat the play described. All of the language above applies to appeal plays on the BR for failing to touch first base, and how that negates runs that were scored with two outs during live action. But what about regular play? Is the play at first base a force play that gets reestablished when the BR touches the bag but then retreats for any reason? Well, there is this language in the USA book under Rule 8 Section 2 regarding the double-first base:
"4. On any force out attempt from the foul side of first base the defense and the batter-runner may use either the white or contrasting colored portion of the base."
So maybe it IS a force play. Or not. We really need a case-play interpretation to be 100% sure.
For example, under NFHS, there's this (with my emphasis):
"8-6 A runner is out when:
"ART. 7 ... The runner fails to touch the intervening base or bases in regular or reverse order and the ball is returned to the infield and properly appealed. If the runner put out is the batter-runner at first base, or any other runner forced to advance because the batter became a batter-runner, this is a force out."
And in NCAA, there's this:
"12.10.1 A runner must touch each base in order (first, second, third and home plate) when she is advancing and the ball is in play or dead. All awarded bases also must be touched, and in legal order.
"EFFECT—(12.10.1 and 12.10.2)—For failure to touch a base when advancing or returning while the ball is in play, the runner is out if, before she reaches each untouched base, she is legally tagged or if the ball is held by a fielder on the base she failed to touch, including home plate (live-ball appeal). If the appealed runner is the batter-runner at first base, or any other base runner forced to advance, this is a force out and no runs would score if it was the third out."
And you have very similar language under the USA Softball rule book under Rule 8 Section 7:
"The Runner is Out:
"G. When the runner fails to touch a base or bases in regular or reverse order and the ball is returned to the infield and properly appealed. If the runner put out is the batter-runner at first base, or any other runner forced to advance because the batter became a batter-runner, this is a force out."
Bottom line: I have no idea how we should treat the play described. All of the language above applies to appeal plays on the BR for failing to touch first base, and how that negates runs that were scored with two outs during live action. But what about regular play? Is the play at first base a force play that gets reestablished when the BR touches the bag but then retreats for any reason? Well, there is this language in the USA book under Rule 8 Section 2 regarding the double-first base:
"4. On any force out attempt from the foul side of first base the defense and the batter-runner may use either the white or contrasting colored portion of the base."
So maybe it IS a force play. Or not. We really need a case-play interpretation to be 100% sure.
