infield fly ruling

Question
Men's City league ASA rules.
Runner on first and second one out, batter hits a very high pop-up to the shortstop.  There is no call from the umpire.  The runners stay on base.  The ball is dropped.  The runners advance.  Shortstop throws the ball to third for the force out, the advancing runner heads to dugout.  After the play, the umpire calls the infield fly.  The batter is called out and the force at third is called the third out.

I argued that there was not an initial call of infield fly and the runners should be allowed to return to thier original bases with the batter being out.  

She claimed that she called it when the ball was in the air, but no one on the field (including the other team) seemed to hear her and the second base runner was out because he advanced after the call.

What should be the ruling of this

Answer
Hi John,

It is incumbent on the umpire to call the "infield fly" loud enough for players and runners on the infield to hear.  The rule is in place to protect runners.

BTW "If" she called it there is no force at 3rd and the runner must be tagged.

Based on your information I think she should have taken responsibility for not calling it loud enough (or not calling it at all) and put the runner's back at 1st and 2nd.  We call it "putting the runners at risk" because of our mistake.

Mark