Out of Play Question

Question
In my high school game, there was a ruling which I am not sure if it was correct. The situation was with a runner on 1st the batter hit a very slow grounder to shortstop. The SS threw the ball to first which bounced off the dirt and out of play. The runner on first was allowed to score. The umpire had said he had obtained 2nd base by the time the ball went out of bounds and was then to be awarded the 2 extra bases. Is that the right ruling?

Answer
Mike,

Here's the relevant rule from the book:

"Two bases when, with no spectators on the playing field, a thrown ball goes into the stands, or into a bench (whether or not the ball rebounds into the field), or over or under or through a field fence, or on a slanting part of the screen above the backstop, or remains in the meshes of a wire screen protecting spectators. The ball is dead. When such wild throw is the first play by an infielder, the umpire, in awarding such bases, shall be governed by the position of the runners at the time the ball was pitched; in all other cases the umpire shall be governed by the position of the runners at the time the wild throw was made"

If the throw from the shortstop into the stands was the first play, then the two bases should be from where the runner started (or, to 3rd base).  If it was the second throw of the play, then the two bases would be from whichever base the runner had reached.

Based on your description, I'd say the umpire got it wrong.

Hope this helps!

Brian