First touch on a fly ball, runners tagging up

[Guest Smithwell]

18u softball, runners on 2nd and 3rd, 1 out. Fly ball hit to deep left center, rf catches the fly ball high above her head. The momentum of the hit seemingly causes the player to fall backwards and do a backwards roll. The umpire waits until she “completes the play” to call the out on the caught fly ball. Meanwhile both runners tagged up on the initial ball in the glove (first touch) and have scored. After getting the ball into the pitcher, they protest and throws the ball to third base. Our first runner was called out for leaving “before the play was completed.” Was this the correct call?!? 

[Vegas_Ump]

No!

The point at which a runner may leave is at the "Beginning of the Catch."  Think about this:  What if an outfielder was way deep and the winning run was on 3B.  Fly ball comes out an he deliberately juggles the ball and continues the juggling act until he's walked back into the infield.  Had the ump rules as in your case, R3 could never leave third to score the winning run.

So it's at the point of first touch.

So, how did the protest come out?

Mike

Las Vegas

[Jimurray]

52 minutes ago, Vegas_Ump said:

No!

The point at which a runner may leave is at the "Beginning of the Catch."  Think about this:  What if an outfielder was way deep and the winning run was on 3B.  Fly ball comes out an he deliberately juggles the ball and continues the juggling act until he's walked back into the infield.  Had the ump rules as in your case, R3 could never leave third to score the winning run.

So it's at the point of first touch.

So, how did the protest come out?

Mike

Las Vegas

The proper term in baseball and I’m guessing softball is “first touch” which might not be the beginning of the catch. 

[Senor Azul]

To our guest Smithwell, could you tell us please what kind of softball your 18U game was—USSSA, high school rules, NCAA rules. Also we are assuming it was fast pitch and not slow pitch. So far we have answered your softball question with baseball rules and it is likely that  in this particular case the baseball rule would be correct but we can be more precise and definitive if we know which level of softball your game was.

[Lou B]

Similar play, R3, one out, and a fly ball to left center field.  F7 runs over to catch it.  The ball hits F7s glove and bounces up into the air.  R3 tags up and takes off for home.  F8 runs over and catches the ball before it hits the ground.  F8 throws to F5 to appeal R3 leaving early.  Ruling, R3 did not leave early even though he left "before" the catch was made.  As soon as the ball was touched by F7 R3 was free to tag up and advance.

[beerguy55]

The softball rule, in any set, slow pitch or fast pitch, is the same as the baseball rule.    For the same reason.  The runner can leave their base when the ball is first touched...to prevent an outfielder from juggling a ball back to the infielder before catching it.

Where I have seen people get confused, in both games, is if the runner is already off the base when the ball is first touched, and the ball is bobbled, so they take off...but then the ball is caught...they still need to tag up because they weren't on the base when the batted ball, that was eventually caught, was first touched.

[BigBlue4u]

 "Fly ball comes out and he deliberately juggles the ball and continues the juggling act until he's walked back into the infield. "

This actually happened in a major league game many years ago.  Thus, the rule.