NJ High School Rule

Question
QUESTION: Bases loaded.  Girl hits ball over the fence.  The runner on 2nd base never touches home.  Runner on first then touches home and the umpire calls the runner on 2nd out.  That is the 3rd out and the three runs do not score.  The question is can the umpire make that call without an appeal?  If he can is there a rule in the book to look it up?

ANSWER: Lisa,

Definitely not.  The defense must appeal the missed base/home plate for the out to be called.

Tom

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

QUESTION: Tom,

What if the runner who didn't touch home was high fiving girls from the dugout before reaching or touching home plate?  This is an out but must that be an appeal call also?

Answer
Actually Lisa, this is not an out.  High fiving your team mates is not considered assistance.  The only way this girl could be call out would be if she was being assisted by her team mates in some manner.  If this happened it would not be an appeal play, the umpire would simply make the call.

Tom