Expert: Martin Hoover - 7/20/2008

Question
QUESTION: Here is the little league situation.  We are the home team batting in the bottom of the 6th inning and are behind by one run.  There are no outs, runners on 2nd and 3rd.  The batter hits a long fly ball that hits the gap and rolls to the fence.  Both runners score and the teams leave the field and line up for the hand shake.  While we are standing in line, the other coach makes an appeal.  The pitcher and catcher return to the field, the ump give the pitcher the ball who throws it to the catcher who touches home plate.  The ump then calls both runners out stating that the first runner did not touch home plate and that the second runner passed the first runner the moment that he touched home plate.  I think the ump should not have allowed the appeal because the defensive team left the field of play.  Had the appeal been a legal appeal, then the first runner should have been called out and second run should have counted.  What is the correct call?

ANSWER: Larry,

In this situation, the defensive team must make the appeal BEFORE the defensive team leaves the playing field.  According to rule 7.10, The defensive team has left the field when no players remain in fair territory. If what you say is correct, and they left the playing field to shake hands, then they would not have been allowed to appeal.

I hope this has answered your question.  Should you have anymore, please don't hesitate to ask.

-Martin Hoover

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Marti,

Thanks for your answer.  One more clarification, if I could.  If there had been a legal appeal, what would have been the correct call be regarding the runners at home plate?
Thanks,
Larry

Answer
If the proper appeal had been made, the runner from third would be declared out, and the runner from second scores.  

It's not logical to say the runner from second passed the runner from third just because the runner from third failed to touch home.  

Even though the runner from third failed to touch home, once he passes it he has assumed to have touched home.  If no appeal of the runner is made, a runner is considered to have touched a base if they move past the base.

-Martin Hoover