Does the runner establishing a baseline apply after he has passed home plate? Situation this afternoon - one out, runner on second, ground ball to short. Batter is thrown out at 1st for 2nd out, runner on second tries to score. Ball is thrown high to catcher, and runner ducks under tag but misses home plate. His momentum takes him about 20 feet beyond home plate to fence. Catcher realizes he missed the tag and runs toward him, at which point the runner begins dodging around to try to avoid tag and get to plate. He was running around with the catcher chasing him. Umpire eventually called him out although the tag was never made. Can someone point me to a rule that would cover this situation?

The high school rule is 8-4-2-a.

The baseline is a direct line from the runner (wherever he is when F2 makes the tag attempt) to the plate. As soon as he strays more than 3 feet from this line, he's out.

If the runner wants to return to touch the plate, he must do so immediately (8-2-5). If he does not, the catcher (or any fielder) can make a live ball appeal by touching the plate while in possession of the ball.

quote:

Catcher realizes he missed the tag and runs toward him, at which point the runner begins dodging around to try to avoid tag and get to plate. He was running around with the catcher chasing him. Umpire eventually called him out although the tag was never made

Not that I am trying to give HS baseball too much credit, but Im hoping this was a youth game and not a HS varsity game.......although, I have seen this sort of thing before.....

I am hoping that the coaches are teaching the players to take advantage of the live ball appeal and step on the plate......no chasing of the runner needed.....

This was a JV game and I have another question regarding the live ball appeal. In this situation, the runner has the opportunity to get back to the plate before he is tagged out. When does he lose that opportunity? If the catcher had immediately realized that he missed the plate, stepped on it and told the umpire the runner missed the plate, is he out? What if the runner dives back to the plate as that is ocurring? Is he safe if not tagged? He had not left the field of play, and so until he leaves the baseline, the field of play, or is tagged out, I assume they play on - correct?

My assumption would be, if the base runner meets the criteria and attempts to return directly to the plate, stays within the established baseline a tag would have to be made.

If a runner returns immediately to touch a missed base, it is a tag play - the runner must be tagged to be out. If not, it becomes an appeal play - either the runner or the base can be touched on proper appeal. This is true at all bases and for force plays as well.