Force out of runner batter at first base
2016/7/15 17:54:27
Question
Last night, in a Girls 10U softball game, we had a situation that I feel was called incorrectly. With bases loaded the batter hit a ground ball to first, which was bobbled by the first baseman(girl). She picked up the ball to throw home, but realized that she did not have a play, so she ran to first base and stepped on it for the force. The batter runner was ruled safe, because she did not have the ball in her glove hand. This was not a tag out.
Answer
Thanks for the question!
That is some protestable caca right there! As the good doctor would say, that is a mis-application of playing rules.
How on earth could anyone not get an out when the ball is in their bare hand instead in her glove it beyond me. ASA Rule 8 Section 7 B clearly states a runner is out if they touch a bag with the ball in their hand (the ball has to be under control obviously). Heck, she could have taken a line drive to first with the ball in her glove hand (assume a lefty for this) and touched the base with her non-glove hand and the runner would have been out. That's the same principle as the foot touching the bag while the ball is caught (force plays only).
I hope this answers your question, if not please reply.
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