Sean Polreis
New Member
Hello;
An interesting scenario happened in our ball game last night. Runner on 1st - ground ball to 1st baseman. Runner left 1st but then went back to the base as the fielder gathered the ball. Fielder touched 1st base thus making the batter out. Normally when this happens the runner needs to be tagged and is usually going to 2nd (but could technically go back to 1st since the base is open after the fielder touches it making the batter out). However, in this case the runner was actually on 1st base when it was touched by the fielder. Is the runner then "safe" at 1st as it is an open base or is there a rule that he cannot be standing on 1st at all - is he considered illegally occupying 1st base? Thanks.
An interesting scenario happened in our ball game last night. Runner on 1st - ground ball to 1st baseman. Runner left 1st but then went back to the base as the fielder gathered the ball. Fielder touched 1st base thus making the batter out. Normally when this happens the runner needs to be tagged and is usually going to 2nd (but could technically go back to 1st since the base is open after the fielder touches it making the batter out). However, in this case the runner was actually on 1st base when it was touched by the fielder. Is the runner then "safe" at 1st as it is an open base or is there a rule that he cannot be standing on 1st at all - is he considered illegally occupying 1st base? Thanks.