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 1 down, runners on first and third. Fly ball to outfield caught for 2nd out, runner on first did NOT tag and retreats back to first, at the same time runner on third properly tags and scores JUST before the throw from the outfield BEATS the runner back to first for the third out.
Does the run count? It is my understanding this is called a timing play and the run should count IF the runner on score scored before the third out was recorded at first.
Answer Hi pete,
you are correct, this is a "timing" play and NOT a "force out". By rule the run would count if it scored before the appeal of a base left too early at 1st.
Here's ASA RS1K. Tag-Ups. When a runner leaves a base too soon on a caught fly ball
and returns in an attempt to retouch, this is considered a time play and
not a force out. When the appeal is the third out, all runs scored in
advance of the appealed runner and prior to the legal appeal count
