Double off baserunner on caught flyball

[Gord]

Hi,

Runner (R1) at 1B, 1 out.  Batter hits a flyball to center (F8), and R1 takes off (perhaps thinking there are 2 outs).  By the time F8 catches the ball, R1 is almost at 3B.

Can R1 be doubled off by F8 throwing the ball in, and the infielder tagging 2nd before R1 retreats past it on his way back to 1B? 

[grayhawk]

11 minutes ago, Gord said:

Hi,

Runner (R1) at 1B, 1 out.  Batter hits a flyball to center (F8), and R1 takes off (perhaps thinking there are 2 outs).  By the time F8 catches the ball, R1 is almost at 3B.

Can R1 be doubled off by F8 throwing the ball in, and the infielder tagging 2nd before R1 retreats past it on his way back to 1B? 

No. He can be put out on appeal (which is what causes a runner who left a base too soon on a batted ball caught in flight to be out out) by either touching the base he left too soon (1B in this case) with possession of the ball, or by tagging the runner. Since 2B wasn't the base he left early from, it wouldn't be a valid appeal.

[beerguy55]

23 hours ago, Gord said:

Can R1 be doubled off by F8 throwing the ball in, and the infielder tagging 2nd before R1 retreats past it on his way back to 1B? 

To add to the correct answer above, the runner can be tagged at any point before he gets back to first - including while he is on third base, or while he is on second base, on his way back to first.

Now, practically speaking, if F4 is standing on second base with the ball, and R1 is still between second and third, he's going to have a hard time getting back to first.

If he decides to take a shortcut across the infield, now you can appeal the runner missing second base by tagging second base.

[love to ump]

to add more to Beerguy's reply....I think that is almost a standard play in some little league games I do!!

[Coach Carl]

5.09(c) Appeal Plays

Any runner shall be called out, on appeal, when:

(1) After a fly ball is caught, he fails to retouch his original base before he or his original base is tagged; 

[Vegas_Ump]

23 hours ago, beerguy55 said:

If he decides to take a shortcut across the infield, now you can appeal the runner missing second base by tagging second base.

And then there's the "Last Time By" bromide!  🙂

Mike