middle school fast pitch third strike rule

Question
Runner at first and third there is a dropped third strike. the batter runs to first. The officials confer and state that both base runners were off of the base and therefore first was unocupied.If this is the case then any time a base runner takes a lead off the base it is unoccupied. Q. When is the base deemed occupied and unavalable to the batter.
Second question. Bases loaded BR on 1st takes off for 2nd upon tagging secon she realizes that the base is occupied and runs back to first. Is there a call here.

Answer
Hi Bob,

In this case a base is occupied when a runner is legally entitled to and has advanced to that base.  In this case both 1st and 3rd are occupied and if there were less than 2 outs the batter is out.  Leading off does NOT unoccupy the base.  That was the wrong call and is protestable.  The base is not unoccupied until the runner advances fully to the next legal base(s)(or is removed from the base by being called out).

Second question....No, if it was simply that.

Mark