BASERUNNING
QUESTION: In high school, baseball and softball, runners on second and first, one out: batter lofts a short fly ball out of the reach of right fielder and second base person. Runner at second advances to third but runner at first hesitates thinking ball will be caught. Batter-runner hustling out of box touches first base and passes hesitant runner between first and second. Is passing a runner considered a violation? Is any runner called out? Does ball remain live? Is force play still in effect?
ANSWER: Once the batter-runner passed the preceding runner, batter-runner is called out in this live ball play; hence, force play is no longer in effect. If the throw to second for force play occurred before passing violation, force out is enforced; hence, there is no base running violation and batter is not out (BB- Rule 8, Sec. 4, Art. 2, m) (SB- Rule 8, Sec. 6, Art. 4, Penalty).
QUESTION: Batter hits a hard line drive to third base person who drops the ball. He/she recovers and overthrows first base and ball goes into dead ball area. Batter-runner had not yet contacted first base at time of throw. Is batter awarded one or two bases? Does batter-runner gain first, second or third base?
ANSWER: Batter is awarded two bases; hence, he/she gains second base (BB- Rule 8-3-3,c; on initial throw by infielder, two bases from time of pitch) (SB- 8-4-3, f; two bases from time of throw).
