Touching all bases

Question
The following is based on our understanding that to advance safely, a batter/runner must legally touch all applicable bases on a ground-rule hit (e.g. over-the-fence home run, ground-rule double) and in all other base-running situations.

Our coed slow pitch league has a rule that if a male batter walks, the female batter immediately behind him in the order has the option to take an automatic walk. In a game, a male batter walked, and after taking two or three steps toward first base, he jogged past the pitcher, directly to second base without touching first base. After the female batter, talking the automatic walk, reached first base, the defensive team executed an appeal play by throwing to first base and having the first baseman step on the base.

The umpire ruled, "I didn't see it, so everyone is safe."

Although my team made the appeal, we gave no further argument because once an umpire says "I didn't see it," nothing more can or should be said.

Admittedly however, we did not know if we executed the appeal play correctly and which runner(s) should be declared out. We hoped to have the male who went directly to second declared out, but here are the questions in that regard:

1. Is the male batter/runner drawing a walk and then advancing to second on the automatic walk required to touch first base?

2. If yes, then should the appeal on the male batter/runner be made at first base or by tagging the batter/runner at second base?

3. Once the female batter/runner touches first base, is she out for having passed the runner who failed to touch first before advancing to second?

Or is this situation just too strange to worry about?

Thank you!  

Answer
Hello Kenneth

1. Yes the bases must be touched in legal order in all situations.

2. If the ball is live the appeal is made by tagging the base missed or the base runner that missed the base. If the ball is dead any player with the ball may make a verbal appeal on a runner missing a base once the ball has been returned to the infield and time has been called by the umpire. There is no need for a throw to a base of tag of appealed runner.


3. No.  Failure of a PRECEDING runner to touch a base or legally tag up on a caught fly ball and who is declared out, does not affect the status of a SUCCEEDING base runner who touches bases in proper order.