Ruling Question - Umpires help?

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I have a ruling question.

Runner at 3rd, 2 out. Batter hits grounder, error at first. Runner from 3rd scores, but misses the plate. Runner heads to dugout on 1st base side. Mass confusion breaks out with fielding team parents screaming to touch the plate. Runner runs from the dugout area and play is close at the plate, but umpire calls the runner safe. Says that he didn't see how far she got to the dugout but agrees that she missed the plate.

So what is the ruling on missing home:
1) When exactly does the runner give herself up?
2) Does the catcher have to tag the runner making her way back to the plate or does she just have to touch the plate?

Thanks for any insight!

 

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Since you said the umpire essentially ruled she DIDN'T GO INTO the dugout (area), it is still a live play and the runner is in jeopardy of being TAGGED out. Since it's not a force play, touching the plate would have no effect.

Even if the runner had entered the dugout, she STILL would have been safe unless there was an appeal by the defensive coach that she missed the plate. The parents screaming probably would have guaranteed an appeal.

Was the defense confused? What took so long for the catcher to get the ball to attempt the tag? An opportunity for a learning experience for the kids! I'm also thinking the batter/runner would have at least made it to second in the confusion.

Lesson to be learned - parents should be spectators - ONLY. Bleacher coaches and bleacher umpires take away the fun of the game for the kids. Let the kids play, and simply applaud them and cheer them on.

 

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A runner who missed the plate can come back and touch it up until the point where she actually steps into a dead ball area (dugout, gate, fence, etc.).

Catcher may either tag the runner before she reaches the plate OR execute a verbal appeal. The verbal appeal must be "unmistakable" as to what is being appealed. For instance, defensive player would need to say something like, "She missed the plate", to the umpire so it is obvious what exactly is being appealed.

 

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1) "Giving up" doesn't apply here. If no appeal she's presumed to have touched the plate and is safe. I assume that the appeal was successful in this case.
2) Either tag the runner or the plate for the appeal of missing the base.

 

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Tagging the runner as she scrambles back to touch the plate is considered to be an obvious appeal.

Tagging the plate is not. It must be accompanied by a verbal appeal. Otherwise, all you have is a player standing there with the ball, which doesn't tell the umpire that she saw the runner miss the base.

And, of course, minus a succesful or proper appeal, this runner is safe and the run scores.

 

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Thanks Bretman for the clarification.

I never saw how far she actually got to the dugout so I don't know if she really made it to the "dead ball" zone. Neither umpire saw that either (although I question the plate umpire that if he knew she missed the plate, why he didn't watch how far she made it off the field?). And the defensive team didn't really "appeal" anything, but threw the ball to the catcher who stood on the plate while the girl ran back to touch the plate and the two got there at the same time. No tagging at all.

Thanks again.

 

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I saw this last season during a game:

Runners on 2nd & 3rd with 1 out. The batter hits a double into the gap scoring both base runners. Unfortunately the 1st runner to cross the plate actually missed home and when the 2nd runner touched home the umpire called the runner out

 

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Bad call...if he called her out without the benefit of a valid appeal by the defense.