Force out?

Question
Their appears to be a discrepancy on rule interpretation between you and another individual on the web.

situation: 1 out. runners on 1st and 3rd. batter flies out to left field. runner on first takes off thinking it is a hit. left fielder throws to short who throws to first and the umpire calls the runner out[third out]. are you saying the run at third will count/score as long as the runner from third touches home plate before the out is made at first[for the third out]?

Answer
Hi Julian,

This is submission #2.  I didn't realize until my first answer was published that in the second paragraph I inadvertently used the term "batter-runner" in the place of "runner who was on 1B."  Sorry!

Thank you for your question.  I appreciate your tact and diplomacy, but I have been a softball expert since only 9/26/10 and have only answered 23 questions, so it was very easy for me to quickly review all of my past answers.  I have not yet answered a question just like yours, so I'm not sure to which of my answers you are referring, nor to which of my peer's answers you are referring.  That said, I am unable to address the discrepancy you mentioned and am just going to answer your question as if I am seeing it for the first time.  Pardon me if I did miss a question just like yours in my answers review!

When the shortstop threw the ball to 1B and "doubled up" the runner who was on 1B, a live ball appeal play out occurred.  This is known as a time play or timing play and NOT a force out.  All force outs became immediately impossible as soon as the left fielder caught the fly ball.  If the runner on 3B touched HP before the runner who was on 1B was doubled up, then the run scores.  If the runner on 3B touched HP after the runner who was on 1B was doubled up, then the run doesn't score.  See below: ASA 2010 Umpire Manual, Rules Supplement 1, (Appeals), section K.  It describes your case play EXACTLY.

K. Tag-Ups. When a runner leaves a base too soon on a caught fly ball
and returns in an attempt to retouch, this is considered a time play and not a force out. When the appeal is the third out, all runs scored in advance of the appealed runner and prior to the legal appeal count.

Hope this helps, Scott