Crazy base running rules

Question
QUESTION: Two different questions in regards to fastpitch base running rules.
First: Our batter hits a line drive to SS with runners on 1B and 2B no outs.  Our runners start to advance but SS makes what looks like a diving catch.  Runners return to bases and batter crosses first but as SS gets up and makes transition to throw, ball rolls out of her glove.  Everyone thought it was a catch including our third base coach who was only a few feet away but plate ump does not signal a catch and SS throws ball to 3B for the force.  Meanwhile, 1B coach tells runner that she made the catch and our runner starts to head to the dugout (approx 3 or 4 ft towards home plate) When runner realizes that umpire did not signal a catch, she runs back to first but 3B throws the ball and it gets to 1B before runner crosses the base for second time.  There was no tag on the runner. Home ump calls batter/runner out with a force out.  I argue that she had already crossed first and now it was a tag play.  Ump says that since she went back towards home plate, it becomes a force out again. Is that true?

Second question. A team did a trick base running play against us with runners on 1B and 2B. After the pitch, runner on 1B starts to jog towards 2B.  Runner on 2B does not move and our pitcher stares at the runner while in the circle.  When the runner got about 3 feet from 2B, she turned and started to jog back to first in attempt to draw a throw.    My question is if we had gotten her into a pickle and the girl on 2B broke for 3B and then jogging runner reaches 2B and a second pickle develops between 3B and 2B, is the girl (orignally starting on 1B and has reached 2B) allowed to run back to 1B to allow the runner now in a pickle an open base if she is forced back to 2B?  In other words, once 2B is reached, can that runner reverse back to 1B during a live play or does "The travesty of the game" rule apply here?  I'm trying to figure out the best way to defend this in the future and if she is locked to 2B once reached and previous runner has vacated towards 3B, we have more options versus getting into some kind of triangle pickle with 2 runners.  I appreciate your input.

ANSWER: Hi Mike,

Quite a mess and this is one of the hardest plays an umpire deals with. On something like this the umpire MUST give a call, either and "OUT" or a "TRAP" immediately.  A play on the B-R at 1st is not a force play but is essentially treated as one.  So ASA 8-7-c after touching a base when a runner retreats from it, the force is reinstated.  On this one we have an out but I would have a respectful discussion with the umpire that they needed to give an immediate out or trap and they didn't do that.

R1 cannot leave 2nd if F1 has possession of the ball in the circle and R1 stopped at 2nd.  R2 off base may move toward a base, stop once and immediately advance or retreat, in this case it would have to be 1st since 2nd is occupied and R1 cannot move off it, assuming F1 makes no play on any runner or fakes a throw.  R2 really has no place to go.  

"When the runner got about 3 feet from 2B, she turned and started to jog back to first in attempt to draw a throw."  She must do that, she cannot stop or reverse her direction again and must move directly toward 1st. It really isn't a defensive problem unless you do something stupid.  That being said I am not a coach and don't give coaching answers.  If you want to write Tom on this forum he is a coach and could go into detail how to handle it.

mark

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your reponses. The answer to the first question makes sense but I don't think you completely understood what I was asking in the second question. I am aware of the look back/circle rule and know R1 can't leave 2B while F1 has possession.  But in same scenario, if F1 makes a play on R2 and R1 takes off for 3B, if the fielder's throw to F5 at 3B and get R1 into a pickle play and R2 makes it safely to 2B during the active play, does R2 have the option to leave 2B and run back to 1B if R1 comes back to 2B?  In other words, if F1 no longer has possession of the ball and it is now a live play, can R1 and R2 create a double pickle between bases and freely go back and forth even if they had already safely reached the next base.  I want know if R2 has option of retreating to 1B after reaching 2B safely if F1 is not in possession of the ball.  I hope this makes more sense.  Thanks

Answer
Hi Michael,

Yes both runners can advance and retreat during the live ball.   R1 can touch 3rd and retreat to 2nd and r2 can do the same.  If both are on 2nd it legally belongs to R1 and r2 can be put out simply on a tag while standing on 2nd.

Mark

I hope this answers it if not let me know....as far as how to defense this ask Tom he's also a coach.