Force out ....

Question
QUESTION:  Modified softball (I don't think that it matters)
  Bases loaded , one out ... ball is hit hard ,on the line to the third baseman (playing in for the left handed batter), who catches and sweeps a tag up for the runner coming from third ... runner brakes and leaps back to the bag , he's tagged out if he continued..  Third baseman follows , steps on third then touches the runner...  I said , the bases stay loaded with the runner from second to third out , runner on third safe .. .... now two outs next batter up .. If he tags the runner on third first and steps on the base , there is the double play .. Talk to me ..  I felt pretty lonely out there on the call...     Randy

ANSWER: Hi Randy,

Thank you for your question.  No, it doesn't matter in this case if your game was Modified or not, but it could have, so thank you for mentioning it.  Will you please clarify some points about your play so I can understand it better?  I do apologize for the delay this request will cause!  Please use these designations: at time of pitch, r3 runner on 3b, r2 runner on 2b

1.  Was the batted fair ball a caught line drive or a caught grounder?  

2.  If a caught line drive, it's obvious that r3 hadn't properly tagged up, but what about r2?

3.  When F5 raced back to 3B and touched it, at this exact moment where was r3?  r2?

4.  Which runner got tagged by F5, r2 or r3?

Thank you, Scott Kelly



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Scott,
      Ground ball on the chalk line snared by  F5  ... Runner starting on third base  ,  R3 goes back and stands on  third base , R2 never reaches third base because he knows he's out ..   F5 steps on third base then tags  R3 as R3 is standing on third base ..  

Answer
Hi Randy,

OK, now we're cooking with gas.  One out.  R3 on 3B, R2 on 2B, R1 on 1B.  (I wish every softball org. would use this format: it's the easiest, IMO.)   When F5 stepped on 3B he forced out R2, as R2 was forced (obligated) to advance to 3B when the batter became a batter/runner.  Two outs.  Since succeeding runner R2 is out, R3 is now no longer forced (obligated) to advance to HP.  R3 is safe after being tagged by F5.  You may have felt lonely out there on the field, but I hope that you felt proud, too, as you ruled correctly on this play and it is not an easy one!  Start the next batter with R3 remaining on 3B, R1 on 2B, and the batter/runner on 1B.

I know that umpires are supposed to talk about plays, not players, but nothing offensive on my part is intended here: the ideal play for F5 to have made in this circumstance would have been to tag R3, whether he's standing on the base or not, for out #2, then simply touch 3B to force out R2, for out #3.

Scott Kelly