NFHS: Third-to-first-to-second - balk?

[pl8ump1012]

NFHS Ruleset. R1 and R3. Two outs.

RHP F1 pitching from the set position. He steps and feints to third, turns to throw to F3, but he's fooled R1, who has started for 2B. F1 does not release his throw to F3, and instead, disengages, and throws to F4 who is now at 2B. Rundown ensues and R1 is tagged out before R3 crosses home plate. No run. Should this have been a balk?

For clarity's sake, his third-to-first move would have been a clean one had he thrown to first base. I'm asking if he balked by not throwing to first, and instead stepped off and threw to second.

[Jimurray]

3 minutes ago, pl8ump1012 said:

NFHS Ruleset. R1 and R3. Two outs.

RHP F1 pitching from the set position. He steps and feints to third, turns to throw to F3, but he's fooled R1, who has started for 2B. F1 does not release his throw to F3, and instead, disengages, and throws to F4 who is now at 2B. Rundown ensues and R1 is tagged out before R3 crosses home plate. No run. Should this have been a balk?

For clarity's sake, his third-to-first move would have been a clean one had he thrown to first base. I'm asking if he balked by not throwing to first, and instead stepped off and threw to second.

I have never seen, but it is possible, F1 feint to 3B without disengaging in dragging his pivot foot off in the feint. If your F1 managed to stay engaged on the feint and then stayed engaged in the feint to 1B that would be a balk that most here have never seen or envisaged. Not releasing the throw is nothing if F1 disengaged in the feint to 3B. What do you mean by "and instead disengages"?

[pl8ump1012]

22 minutes ago, Jimurray said:

I have never seen, but it is possible, F1 feint to 3B without disengaging in dragging his pivot foot off in the feint. If your F1 managed to stay engaged on the feint and then stayed engaged in the feint to 1B that would be a balk that most here have never seen or envisaged. Not releasing the throw is nothing if F1 disengaged in the feint to 3B. What do you mean by "and instead disengages"?

You make a very valid point. He must have disengaged on the feint to third. That does make a lot more sense than what I thought I remembered/saw. That's much easier to figure out if it's a balk or not! Thank you.