Pitcher steps out of the circle

Question
This happened in a high school game I was watching yesterday. Runner on second base. Pitcher gets the ball from the catcher while in the circle. The runner is on the base. The pitcher then takes her glove off and walks back out of the circle. The runner takes off and slides into third. The umpires got together and called the runner out for violating the look back rule. Is this right?

Answer
Tommy,

The rules are very clear, the pitcher must be in control of the ball while the pitcher is within the circle.  If the pitcher leaves the circle, and the ball is live, the runners are free to do what they want.

Based on the information you supplied me, I think the umpires got this one wrong.

Tom