Stealing with no base

[Sabertooth]

OK, I'm going to try and get the scenario correct. 1ST Post to the Blues. 5A High School Playoff Game in Texas last night #1 Nationally Ranked (ESPN) The Woodlands VS. Tomball. (not that it matters just a set up). Bear with me Blues as I try to get this right.

4 Blue game. 1 Out, R1 on 1ST. BR sharp base hit up the middle. F8 fields the grounder throws to F5 at 2ND and R1 is out. R1 slides as the throw comes in. The saftey base pops out, leaving a hole in the ground. BU at 2ND punches R1 out, and that's all, BU makes no other call. BR is safe at 1ST. R1 (which is now out) gets up and retrieves the base that has popped out. As she's carring the base back to it's hole, F4 & F5 are slowly walking towards the Pitcher, as they do, BR steals "the hole". No attempt made by the defense to "the hole". Everyone is staring around looking like WTF?? I believe she made it to the hole, though I couldn't see the hole! What's the call?

[JCates]

Had the umpire called time to replace the base? I would think until that happens it is still a live play.

[Sabertooth]

Umpire made no other call, other than to punch out R1.

[UmpSteve]

If no umpire called "Time", the ball remains live. The defense turned their collective backs on a live play, and deserve what resulted.

For what it is worth, NCAA makes it clear (and ASA and NFHS top level umpires understand) that every play is intended to remain live, and all plays allowed to happen, until the pitcher controls the ball in the circle, AND all runners are stopped on a base. These conditions were apparently not met, so the ball was live.

Even when a runner (or coach) requests "Time", the umpires should not grant time while live ball play remains possible. Like in this case; so sorry the defense failed the simple task of getting the ball to the pitcher in the circle so that no further play was possible.

[RANT=ON] One of my personal pet peeves is the insistence of coaches that infielders NOT throw the ball, rather "run it in". Hell, man, if she can't make the throw, get a player who can!! The ball is still live, and we are standing there "on point" until the player completes her assigned journey that is totally unnecessary. [/RANT=OFF]

[SoftballSoccerDad]

So, if the baserunner is standing where the base should be and gets tagged, she's out?

[JCates]

So, if the baserunner is standing where the base should be and gets tagged, she's out?

Not any more than if a runner stealing second was tagged out because the "safety base" bounced away. In other words...I would say no.

[Sabertooth]

I was an impartial spectator, I had "no dog in the hunt". And I agree with what everyone is saying, still live ball. I was curious about R1 that was called out, kind of stumbling around holding the base while her teammate was stealing the "hole". She didn't really intend to stumble around, she wasn't sure what to do as her team mate came barreling down to 2nd! Did the actions of R1 have any bearing on when time should be called?

[GIMNEPIWO]

I was an impartial spectator, I had "no dog in the hunt". And I agree with what everyone is saying, still live ball. I was curious about R1 that was called out, kind of stumbling around holding the base while her teammate was stealing the "hole". She didn't really intend to stumble around, she wasn't sure what to do as her team mate came barreling down to 2nd! Did the actions of R1 have any bearing on when time should be called?

Not unless, as a retired base runner she interfered with F4 & F6's ability to make a play on the batter runner stealing second ...

[MTR]

[RANT=ON] One of my personal pet peeves is the insistence of coaches that infielders NOT throw the ball, rather "run it in". Hell, man, if she can't make the throw, get a player who can!! The ball is still live, and we are standing there "on point" until the player completes her assigned journey that is totally unnecessary. [/RANT=OFF]

You have the fielder run the ball in to freeze the runners, not because the fielder cannot catch.

[Sabertooth]

Then the Blues on hand made the correct call. BR safe at 2nd. And that is what I thought the call should be. Of course the defensive crowd disagreed! In closing let me ask. Given UmpSteve's comment allowing play to continue. "SHOULD" BU have called time when R1 picked up the base that popped out? Thanks for the comments.