AboutDr. Mark R. Ambrose Expertise I can answer all questions about book rules and "case book" rules governing the playing of ASA softball. Have a REAL situation that happened and are not sure the proper rule was applied, ask me.
Experience I am a registered ASA umpire, a MASA "At-Large" umpire since 1996 and a retired District Umpire-In-Chief. I have very extensive experience in MASA State Championship and ASA national qualifying tournament play both as an umpire and an Umpire-In-Chief. I completed 3 ASA National Schools including the ASA national advanced umpire school in Ok City("Bernie" for those who know him was the lead clinician, I survived the week and couldn't let my kids watch the game tapes when I got home. No, I love you Bernie). I was one of 4 "Yankee" umpires selected to umpire the Men's D National East Championship in 2002 in Winter Haven FL
Organizations Amateur Softball Association (The authority in softball)
Question Here's the situation from a recent game. Runners on 1st base and 2nd base, no outs. Batter hits a low pitch which the runner on first thinks is a line drive, but it is actually a ground ball, having hit the dirt from the bat right in front of the plate. Pitcher fields the ball, and throws to first to get the batter/runner in plenty of time. Runner on first base never leaves the bag but is not tagged. Runner on 2nd base is off the bag, sees the first baseman throwing to second, and gets back after the shortstop catches the ball on second, but is not tagged. Ruling was that batter/runner is out but runners on 1st and 2nd are safe. I know the throw to first takes off the force at 2nd and 3rd, but doesn't the runner at first base have to leave the bag and if so, wasn't she out when the throw was made to first along with the batter/runner?
Answer Hi Vince,
before a play was made at 1st R2 was no longer legally entitled to it but there is no rule that they must leave the base. If tagged while on base they would be out.
However this all changes when the b-r is first put out at 1st, now all forces are off and R2 can once again legally occupy 1st. Had F3 first tagged R2 on base and then contacted the base you would have 2 outs.
