A high school aged player hit a ball over the fence for a home run in a Fall ball game this past weekend. The opposing coach appealed that the player did not touch first when rounding the bases. The umpire denied the appeal, and allowed the home run.

The kid that hit the home run was the smallest player on the field and it was a big deal for him. It would have crushed the kid if his home run was disallowed. Anyhow, I was surprised that a coach would even make this type of appeal in a Fall game. I could maybe see doing this in a very competitive situation, but was wondering what other coaches thoughts were?

I have seen it done in a 11U fall league game before. The batter missed first on a homerun and was called out on appeal. Our team was PO'd. But we never made that mistake again. No matter what the situation you have to play the game correctly.

Better in the fall than in a HS playoff HS game. Every kid at the game will never make that particular mistake again.

quote:

The opposing coach appealed that the player did not touch first when rounding the bases. The umpire denied the appeal, and allowed the home run.

Are you saying the umpire refused to rule on an appeal of a missed base?.......or did the umpire signal safe indicating in his opinion that the runner had touched?

Just a matter of curiosity for me, as no umpire has the right to refuse to rule on an appeal correctly made.........but if he ruled there was a touch then that is a different matter......

piaa_ump, the umpire did not refuse to rule on the appeal. He did give the safe signal saying the runner touched first after the opposing coach appealed.

Doughnutman, yes that is a good point about playing the game correctly. And better to learn in the Fall than in a big HS playoff game. Hopefully, the player learned something and will make sure to touch all bases on any future home runs... even though it turned out to be a non-issue at the time.