Appealing a missed base

NFHS rule 8-2 appeal procedures and guidelines.

There are two types of appeals.
1. Live ball
2. Dead ball

In appeal for a missed base on a

Live ball- In all games an appeal may be made during a live play by any fielder in possesion of the ball, by touching the base missed or by tagging the runner committing the violation if he is still on the playing field.

Dead ball- the dead ball appeal may be made:

1. Once all runners have completed their advancement and time has been called, a coach or any defensive player, with or without the ball, may make a verbal appeal on a runner missing a base. The administering umpire should then make a decision on the play.

2. If the ball has gone out of play, runners must be given the opportunity to complete their base running responsibilities before the dead ball appeal can be made.

That's interesting. Umpires in our area say that the ball must be in the pitcher's hand on the rubber, he must step off the rubber and throw to the missed base. They will not allow a verbal appeal from coach or player. They always state that you must appeal it by the book. What book are they reading?

Sounds like OBR. (Official Baseball Rules). Since this is the HSBBWEB, I confine my answers to the NFHS rules.

It sounds to me as if they are using major league rules. If this is in a HS game under fed rules they would be wrong.

This situation happened recently in my son's jr. high game. My son hit the ball deep into the outfield. The long legs on his 5'11" frame took a stride right over second base and he coasted into third. The other team's coach noticed the missed base and began instructing his pitcher as to what to do. He wanted his pitcher to step back off the rubber and make the throw to second to get the out on my son. The pitcher stepped up on the rubber, came set, took a step toward home plate(and the batter in the box) then turned and threw to second. The umpire shook his head and called a balk.
According to our coach the rule was the umpire(even though he saw the missed base)could not make the call. The coach has to instruct his player to get the out.
I am always telling our coach,"You gotta love jr. high ball."

I believe that Kentucky plays with FED rules. But it looks as if your umpires don't read the FED books.

I just checked the Kentucky High School Athletic Association site, and they indeed play by FED rules.

Interestingly though, it seems that licensed umpires have to attend only ONE rules/interpretations clinic per season, as do head coaches.

Using differing rules in sub varsity games such as Junior High, can lead to a mess and thats for sure.

In your case it seems as if they were using OBR. When the pitcher was instructed to step back off the rubber he instead stepped towards home plate and then threw to 2nd. Thats a balk and your son should have be awarded home.