Fastpitch (12U) Softball

Question
Runners on 1st & 3rd, less than 2 outs.  Dropped 3rd strike.  Fans mistakenly yell for batter to run, which she does.  Catcher throws to first allowing the runner on third to score.  Base umpire calls dead ball, calls batter out, and sends runners back to 1st & 3rd.  When I asked him to clarify why he sent runners back, he & the home plate umpire said there was too much confusion,and because of the age (12U), they didn't think it was right to allow the runners to advance. Did they make the right call?  Isn't it the catcher's responsibility to know the situation?  The rules of a dropped third strike are legitimate for the 12U and even the 10U divisions.  I appreciate the umpire's concern for the girls' feelings, but the rules are the rules, and this play stopped a potential rally.

Answer
Hi Ken,

Some local league rules do address this at lower levels just as the umpires handled it.  Check to see it yours does, actually if you are coach you should already know as local league exceptions to the rule book should be published before the season begins so everyone's on the same page.

However if it is not a league rule the umpires are required to call it "by the book" even if they don't like it, which is continued live ball, the defense is responsible for what they do with the ball (catcher's responsibility, DMC, dumb move catcher) and runners can advance at their own risk.  

The worst thing that can happen is to have 1 set of umpires calling it 1 way for a game because they don't like it (that's NOT their job to make that decision) and another set calling it BTB as they should another game.  It's not fair to the game or the umpires. "hey Blue they didn't call it last game...ect......ect" and it gets heated for the umpires calling the game properly.

If it's not a local rule next time bring out the "P" word.

Mark