We were in a game today with 1 ump. Middle of the inning with 1 out, our pitcher walked a batter and now there are baserunners on 1 and 2. The catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher in the circle, turns and requests a timeout and starts walking toward the circle. The girl who slightly rounded 2 went back to 2 on the throw. The girl walking to one stops on the base. Right as she is getting to the circle, the ump yells out “I never agreed to your time out request” and so catcher is confused starts walking back to request again and now the base runners who are both standing on 1 and 2 take off for 2 and 3. Our pitcher is still holding onto the ball on the mound, in the circle.
Our coach asks if the umpire saw the ball in the circle. He acknowledged that he did but said there was no timeout. Our coach said even with no time out, the runners can not step off the bases and advance with the ball clearly in the circle.The ump said without a timeout, they are free to advance.
What am I missing? Clearly our catcher didn’t get a clear yes on the timeout. Why he waited until she was almost at the circle to announce it, I don’t know. But still, her error. But how are the baserunners who also thought there was a timeout and just standing on the bases allowed to advance?
Our coach asks if the umpire saw the ball in the circle. He acknowledged that he did but said there was no timeout. Our coach said even with no time out, the runners can not step off the bases and advance with the ball clearly in the circle.The ump said without a timeout, they are free to advance.
What am I missing? Clearly our catcher didn’t get a clear yes on the timeout. Why he waited until she was almost at the circle to announce it, I don’t know. But still, her error. But how are the baserunners who also thought there was a timeout and just standing on the bases allowed to advance?