Fwd: Fw: Foul Runner to Second Base Rule

[Paul Mehta]

Hi Jack

Leo's busy writing this week's newsletter, I'm on holiday... so copying in the rest of the committee.  I'll do my best to answer.  Fran is your other contact for league 3.

I'm also acknoledging that I play for the Rebel Mammoths.  You have only played one league game this season, which was againts my team, i was not there.  If you feel my answer has any unconcious bias, do call me out.

Based on your explination of the incident below and snipet from the rules, the batter was entitled to retreat to 1st base, the fielding team could alos get them out before they got back to 1st base (tag or run out at 1st).  The exception clarifies the only situtation in our rules where retreating iss acceptable.  So could the batter retreat, yes.

You also mention, first time player in your email.  From my time as captain, rules out checking etc.. can get fraught.  Clearly two different points of views from the Captains on  the day from both teams and I don't have your oppositions point of view on what happened.  Leo and I once threw the rule book at each other many years ago, we are still mates, but on reflection I could have handled things better.  For me, I'd want the new player to want to play again...  so experience has taught me how to approach this kind of thing:

I would reccomend negotiating playing the point again saying where you hit an impass like this, saying somethning like, "Look he/she/they are new, just getting to grips with the game, plus we can't agree on the rule and what happened.  How about we replay the point... BUT I ackwoldge your giving me/us benefit of the doubt this time, if we get another issue  where we don't agree I will agree to cede to you and replay the point.  Does that sound fair?".  Bit of back and forth, put the rules away and agree to have a pint after the game.

Does this help

1. Clarrify the rules
2. Share my experience, when stuff goes south how to get focus back on playing and having fun
3. In amongst all of this, as a committe member, i'd want new players to enjoy their first experience of our game.  Come again, tell their collegaues etc..

Think that is it

Cheers

Paul/Stato

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Paul Mehta <paulm...@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, May 27, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Subject: Fw: Foul Runner to Second Base Rule
To: Paul Mehta <paulm...@gmail.com>

Sent from Outlook for Android

---

From: Jack Simpson <JSim...@wwf.org.uk>
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2026 4:15:51 PM
To: Leo Visconti <leovi...@ymail.com>; Paul Mehta <paulm...@hotmail.com>
Subject: Foul Runner to Second Base Rule

 

Hi both,

I meant to check a rule/play situation from our previous game.

Our batter (first time player) hit the ball, and runs to first base.

We have someone on first base who moves to second and stops.

Our batter continues to advance, sees the runner has stopped and second and turns to return and is out at first.

I was thinking the batter could return to first if second had stopped, but they contended that he had to continue, so was out regardless if he made it back safely. I think it stems from this rule which sort of implies both views are correct:

3.6.10 Once a runner has started running to a base, they must continue to that base and cannot return to the previous base. They may be run or tagged out until they touch the base they started to run at. Exception: Only a single runner can occupy a base at any time. If a runner stops on second base and a runner from first makes an attempt at second base, the runner must return to first base and can be run or tagged out until they arrive at first base.

Would appreciate your view on that situation so I have it clear for next time! 

Jack

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[Leo Visconti]

Not too busy to get involved in softball stuff!

Hi Jack, good to hear from you.

You and Stato are both right. If the runner at second stopped they force the runner from first to run back to first and safety. As Stato highlights, the fielding team can get that player out as they attempt to get back to first base - if they get there in time, they are safe.

Happy to chat it through

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