First touch rule

Question
This happened in our slow pitch league last night:

Runner on first and one out. Line drive ripped up the middle and our pitcher gets a glove on it, slows it down and I make the catch at short. I throw back to first to nail the runner by 15-20 feet. The runner continues toward second base and is ruled safe despite not tagging up after my catch. According to the blue's interpretation of the AFA rulebook, the "first touch" rule is in effect, meaning the runner is free to advance once the ball hit the pitcher's glove. I have played softball and baseball for 40 years and never heard of this rule. Please enlighten me if you can. Thanks

Answer
Hi Kurt,

40yrs, really and never had this before?

On a caught fly ball the runner may leave the base as soon as any defensive player 1st touches it.

I use the extreme example of a high line drive that deflects off a leaping 6'8" F6, carries into LF where F7 catches the ball for the out.  Any runner can legally leave as soon as F6 touched the ball.

Mark