Base on balls rounding first

[01softballmom]

First of all I have looked all over and read multiple answers. Ball number 4 is a wild pitch. Batter hustles to first and rounds the base, sees the ball is with the pitcher in the circle, and returns to the bag. She never stopped or hesitated. In fact she only took a step or two off first and ran right back. Opposing coach said she should be out because if you round first on a walk she has committed to second therefore when she returned to first she is out. Both umpires said she rounded and went back to first and never stopped so what she did was legal under the look back rule and called her safe.

What is the rule for rounding first on a walk?

 

[James Smith]

The batter-runner is allowed to run off 1st base. If she pauses too long she is out!

 

[01softballmom]

So a walk is no different than a hit ball? The coaches argued on a walk you can not round without going to second.

 

[James Smith]

Yes, there is no special rule for a walk.

 

[redhotcoach]

She may round first. She is allowed to stop ONCE and IMMEDIATELY return to first or continue to second.

 

[redhotcoach]

So a walk is no different than a hit ball? The coaches argued on a walk you can not round without going to second.

Walk, Hit, Drop 3rd, makes no difference...."if the pitcher has control of the ball within 8 feet of the pitcher's plate."

 

[Comp]

As has been indicated in other posts, a batter who has walked has the same rights under the lookback rule as if they had batted the ball. They may round the base, stop, and either immediately return or continue to advance to the next base.

 

[GunnerShotgun]

Just think of a walk as a hit and then apply the look back rule as you normally would.

 

[JAD]

My $0.02.....I would not recommend rounding the 1B bag after a walk if the pitcher has the ball in the circle. There is little to no benefit in pushing the issue with umpires.

 

[coach james]

My $0.02.....I would not recommend rounding the 1B bag after a walk if the pitcher has the ball in the circle. There is little to no benefit in pushing the issue with umpires.

Agreed. No real benefit here. You'll usually end up with the majority of people thinking she should be out.