Base Running Question

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ASA tournament-I had a runner on 2nd and 3rd. The runner on 3rd broke halfway down the 3rd base line on the pitch. The runner from 2nd ran and stopped on 3rd base. The catcher ran the runner who was orignally on 3rd back down the line towards 3rd base. The runner who was organilly on 2nd but now standing on 3rd returns to 2nd base so that the runner being forced back down the line could reaquire 3rd base. So at this point both runners are respectively back where they started from.

The umpire calls the runner on 3rd out saying she could no longer return to
3rd since the runner from second had aquired the base. The runners tagged the bases in the correct order as they returned and where never on the same base simultaneoulsy. However the runner from 2nd who aquired 3rd base then returned to 2nd was not called out.

Is this the correct call?

 

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To my knowledge; NO.

 

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Bad call. No such rule about a trailing runner "aquiring a base".

Both these runners are legally running the bases and would need to be tagged for an out.

Even if both runners had wound up standing on third, the defense would still need to tag one of them for an out. In this case, the trailing runner would be the one called out if tagged while standing on the base.

 

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Only if they pass one another are they immediately out.

 

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Sounds like a terrible call. Did the runner going back to 3rd possibly step on 3rd while 2nd base runner was still on 3rd too?

 

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@Justthefactsmaam: Doesn't matter if both runners were in contact with the base at the same time unless the defense tagged the trailing runner. See ASA Rule 8-3E:

E. Two runners may not occupy the same base at the same time.
EFFECT: The runner who first legally occupied the base is entitled to that base unless forced to advance. The other runner may be put out by being tagged with the ball.

The runner on 3B would only be forced to advance if bases were loaded and the batter became a batter-runner.

@LADY_KNIGHTS: Trailing runner from 2B would be out if she passed the other runner.

 

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Socal dad
correct. after re-reading the post the runner returned the bases. Originally thought defense possibly tagged both runners at 3rd base.

 

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FYI, Bill Edwards tells his players that if this happens and there is less than 2 outs he wants the trailing runner to stay at 3rd base and hope for the best with the lead runner. He claims statistically you always want a runner left at 3rd base for the next opportunity to score. Remember, he coaches quality college players and figures in a run down that lead runner is probably going to be tagged out. After the lead runner's mistake that put her into that situation, he wants her to buy time to advance the next runner.