Here's the scenario:

Runner at 2nd with one out. Batter hits a ball past the pitcher. The ball strikes the base umpire and caroms to a fielder, who throws the ball to first. The throw beats the runner and the base ump initially calls the runner out at first. The runner at 2nd advanced to 3rd on the play. Then the opposing coach and homeplate umpire enter the discussion. After some discussion, the umpire motions the runner at 3rd back to 2nd and allows the runner to stay on 1st base.

I thought the ump was part of the playing field and that, as screwy as the play was, the out should have been recorded at first.

I'd appreciate some feedback.

Not on a batted ball....here is the applicable ruling....and reference.

NFHS rule 5 Section 1 article 1 (F)
A ball becomes dead immediately when:

F: a fair batted ball touches a runner or umpire before touching any fielder and before passing any fielder other than the pitcher.

Ruling- Dead ball.. runners return to bases occupied at the time of the pitch unless forced by batter runner. Batter awarded first base and credited with a single.

Thanks for the feedback. You've quoted a high school rule. Do you know if the same rule applies in college and pros? The incident I referenced occurred in a college game.

Yes, OBR and NCAA have this same rule...NCAA rule is very similar........

NCAA Rule 6 section 2 (F)

A fair hit ball touches an umpire before touching a fielder and before passing all infielders, other than the pitcher, who has a reasonable chance to make a play.

Penalty- The ball is dead and the batter is awarded first base and is credited with a single. Runners only advance if forced.

OBR reference Rule 5.09 (f)

Thank you.

I thought that if a batted ball hit a runner, the runner is out.

hitting an umpire or a runner results in a dead ball....the runners are out.....this is about a ball hitting an umpire.....which is different....

that's what I thought, but when you quoted the rule above, it just said runners go back to their bases. no problem....