We were playing fall ball today in the sunny and actually warm Midwest and this situation came up. Bases loaded, no outs. Catcher drops third strike, batter takes off to first. Catcher throws to first gets one out ball goes back to home runner is safe. Could we have played it as follows: catcher steps on home plate for forced out then throws to first to get second out. My question is did we have to play the batter first because of the dropped third strike?

Never should have been any throws made. You said no outs when the catcher dropped the third strike. The batter cannot advance on a third strike unless there is nobody on or if there are two outs and first base is occupied.

To change your situation a little - if this would have happened with two outs and bases loaded then all the catcher needed to do was step on home since all runners are being forced to run.

The batter was out, But the ball is live.
Once the catcher threw the ball to first, runner at third stole home.
No dropped third strike.

Just to add a clarification, assuming the ump called it correctly, the batter was called out for strike 3 - not because he was thrown out at 1B.

EH I'm not following your post - are you saying that the original poster said the ball was not dropped? He does say it's a dropped third strike.

Help me out here please.

I'm saying in the umpire's eye's there was no dropped third strike. It was a K.
Catcher just threw it to first for no reason.

I got ya.

this is one where its important the kids know the rules. I teach my kids how to play it on defense, and on offense, I always tell them to run to first. Half the time, the catcher will make a throw when he doesn't have to, which could lead to a situation like the original poster brought up.

And a good catcher, with head's up play can really fool the runner's by faking a throw to first.
And getting the runner's picked off the bags.
EH

touche'

good point!!

Is there a rule violation when a batter runs to first on this play to bait a throw from catcher? Just wondering. I like the idea of teaching kids to run on any dropped third strike, but could this be protested?

Also in the case of it being two strikes, does the catcher actually have to touch the plate for the out. As you stated all runner are forced to proceed, but the batter can not if first is occupied. I gues he can run half way there and stand there until the catcher tags the plate.

there is no rule violation when a batters runs to first on this play...the players are expected to know the situation...if they make the throw, its on them.

yes, the catcher has to touch the plate to record the out if there had been two outs..

hope this helps.