We had a strange situation in a U16 boys game last night here (Ontario, Canada). This is TB but would be considered rec level by your standards. PU was an emergency call-up who has not actively worked games for several years. BU is known to be generally uninterested in softball. Let the fun begin.
R1 on 2nd, R2 on 1st. Batter swings and misses on low pitch. Ball deflects off catcher and bounces to side screen as runners both advance. Ball is returned to pitcher in circle then for some unknown reason 1BCoach yells at R2 to come back to first (I can only assume he thought it was a foul ball). R2 begins jogging to first then stops and reverses towards second again (probably realized something wasn't right here). Pitcher was oblivious to anything going on and made no attempt at a play on runner. PU yells "Runner out for lead-off". The yelling apparently startled pitcher because he proceeded to throw to 2nd trying to get the runner out again Wild throw goes into CF and R1 scores from third.
As the offensive team was clearly over-matched in the game by this point and the umpires were in over their heads there was no appeal by the defense.
I was unable to find anything in the Softball Canada rulebook or umpire casebook pertaining to a runner leaving his rightfully attained base to return to a previously held one. Lead-off rules talk about a runner attempting to advance to the NEXT base. Does ASA have anything on the subject? Any thoughts?
My call from the sidelines: I agreed with the lead-off call based on runner leaving base while pitcher controlled the ball in the circle. When the call was made it should have been dead ball so R1 could not advance beyond third.
R1 on 2nd, R2 on 1st. Batter swings and misses on low pitch. Ball deflects off catcher and bounces to side screen as runners both advance. Ball is returned to pitcher in circle then for some unknown reason 1BCoach yells at R2 to come back to first (I can only assume he thought it was a foul ball). R2 begins jogging to first then stops and reverses towards second again (probably realized something wasn't right here). Pitcher was oblivious to anything going on and made no attempt at a play on runner. PU yells "Runner out for lead-off". The yelling apparently startled pitcher because he proceeded to throw to 2nd trying to get the runner out again Wild throw goes into CF and R1 scores from third.
As the offensive team was clearly over-matched in the game by this point and the umpires were in over their heads there was no appeal by the defense.
I was unable to find anything in the Softball Canada rulebook or umpire casebook pertaining to a runner leaving his rightfully attained base to return to a previously held one. Lead-off rules talk about a runner attempting to advance to the NEXT base. Does ASA have anything on the subject? Any thoughts?
My call from the sidelines: I agreed with the lead-off call based on runner leaving base while pitcher controlled the ball in the circle. When the call was made it should have been dead ball so R1 could not advance beyond third.