taging a runner

Question
can you tag a runner out with the ball in your
hand not the glove.if you tag him with the ball

Answer
Thanks for the question Mike, and it's a good one!

The answer to your question is... absolutely!

This rule is really universal, but I'm going to use ASA Official Rules to help make my point.  According to ASA Rule 8 Section 7 "The Runner is Out" Part B "When the ball is in play and while the runner is not in contact with a base, the runner is legally touched with the ball in the hand(s) of a fielder."  (Again, the runner is out.)

Now we all know that if you have the ball securely in your glove and tag a runner off a base with your glove they are out.  So as long as you tag them with the ball or the ball in the glove, the runner it out.  Now if you tag someone with an empty glove and the ball in your other hand, the runner should be called safe.

Thanks for the question!  If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask!