runners

Question
ASA rules, youth 11-12 fastpitch girls softball.  If a runner is on 2nd base, the batter hits the ball, the batter is safe from the throw to 1st base.  The runner that was on 2nd, advanced to 3rd base and is two steps off the bag towards home and stopped.  The 1st baseman has the ball and is checking the runner. Is the play dead?  If the 1st baseman throws the ball to the pitcher, can the runner at 3rd base advance to home plate or does the first baseman need to get the runner to turn back and stop on the 3rd base bag?  It has been my understanding that if the advancing runner has broken their stride, that the play is dead, unless a play is made to that base.

Answer
The play is not dead with the 1st baseman holding the ball.

When the pitcher has control of the ball in the circle the runner(s) must immediately proceed to the next base or return to the previous base.

It's really that simple.

Mark

I've added most of the look-back poe

Look back rule
When a runner is legitimately off base after a pitch. or as a result of a batter completing their turn at bat and is stationary when the pitcher has the ball in the circle, the runner must immediately attempt to advance to the next base or immediately return to the base left. The responsibility is completely on the runner. There is no obligation on the pitcher to look, fake or throw.

The look back rule does not go into effect for all runners until the batter-runner reaches 1st base, or has been delared out and the pitcher has control of the ball in the circle.

A base on balls or a dropped 3rd strike is treated as a batted ball as long as the batter-runner continues past 1st base. For scoring purposes, when they advance to 2nd base it is considered a stolen base. If they stop at 1st base, however, and then steps off the base after the pitcher has the ball in the circle, they are out.

Batter-runners overrunning 1st base, can no longer start back to the base, and before reaching 1st, run for 2nd. The batter-runner cannot change their mind and advance to 2nd once it looks like they are moving directly to 1st following the overrun or they will be called out.

If a runner is moving toward a base, other than 1st, when the pitcher receives the ball in the circle, that runner may stop once then immediately advance to the next base or return to the previous base, or be called out. Making an attempt or fake will justify the runner being called out. If after the pitcher has the ball in the circle, the runner starts back to the original base or forward to another base, and then stops or reverses direction the runner is out, unless the pitcher makes a play on them. When a play is made on the runner, the runner may stop or reverse direction.

Any act by the pitcher in possession of the ball in the circle that, in the umpire's judgement causes the runner to react, is considered making a play.