you make the call
little league rules. runner on first. no outs. batter hits an infield fly ball. runner advances. shortstop catches the fly ball. runner heads back to first. shortstop overthrows first base and the ball goes out of play. what's your call there ump? almost universally the ruling is the runner advances one base to second. is that correct? hrm. not according to the green book. if a fielder throws a ball out of play the runners are awarded *two* bases. so the runner should be advanced to third. most often this rule applies when the batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop who overthrows first and the ball goes out of play. the batter is awarded two bases: the base the batter was going to (first) and the next base (second). not sure what would happen if the shortstop held the ball for an hour while the batter stands of first staring at him (along with everyone else in the uh stands) before throwing the ball over first and into the crowd. clearly the runner has established rights to first base. and according to the rules, should be awarded two bases after the overthrow. weird how the written rules don't jibe with the established common law rules.