Tag Up and advance on caught foul ball

Question
Dr. Ambrose,

Last week the following situation occured. No outs, runners at 1st and 3rd. Batter hits a long fly ball that is caught by right fielder in foul territory. Runner at 3rd tags up after catch and runs home. For some reason, the umpire was overruled by league commisioner who stated that runner could not advance on a caught foul ball. I have never heard of such a rule in either baseball or in softball, and I was an umpire previously. Said ball, although foul, was still in play. Please explain. Thanks in advance.

Answer
Hi Bill,

The league commisioner has absolutely no authority and no business "between the lines" unless he's got a blue shirt on.  Plus on top of that they are DEAD WRONG!

Of course, this is a BASIC rule of softball with less than 2 out. If a fly ball is caught in playable territory the ball remains alive. So.....It is not a "caught foul ball"....it is a legally caught "fly" ball that happens to be in foul (but live) territory.

You will not see a caught fly "foul ball" in the definition of a foul ball.

If I was the manager of that team I'm protesting the hell out of that decision...BIG TIME and I'm filing a complaint with whatever association the league is sponsored by for the LC's interference with the umpire in the game!

Sorry for the caps but that was ridiculous.

Mark