Slow pitch rule question.

Question
Hello we were playing the other night and a certain play/call may have or may have not been the difference in the game so here it goes. There was a runner on 3rd with 1 out, I was in right center field and a fly ball was hit to me the ball landed in my glove, popped out and i re caught it now i know this is an out but im wondering about the guy on 3rd, he never tagged from 3rd so i threw the ball to my 3rd basemen and he stepped on the base and was called out that i bobbled the ball so he didn't have to tag up. The other team argued that it was the wrong call so here we are, please help!!

Answer
Hi Brandon,

happy to help............the runner may leave the base as soon as a fly ball that is going to be caught 1st touches a defensive player.

I've used in the past a high sharp line drive that a 6'8" F6 leaps for, deflects off his glove and is caught in LC by F7 for the out.  A runner can leave the base as soon as F6 touched the ball.

A bobbled ball does not allow the runner not to tag at all but only leave the base as soon as a defensive player touches it.

Mark