leaving the baseline - not avoiding a tag

That is the correct call.

Running "out of the baseline" only applies when the runner is trying to avoid a tag, other than that the base path is established by the runner as he attempts to advance to the next base.

One way I explain it is this.

"Batter-runner hits a gap shot to left center field, as he rounds 1st base he takes a wide turn on the edge of the outfield grass into 2nd base for a stand-up double. He's out of the "baseline" am I to call him out?"

The light bulb goes off in the coaches head and he understands this rule a little better.

Bigcat,

As Pirate Fan has pointed out, you made the correct call.

One other point to ponder is this: abandonment.

The Jaksa/Roder manual defines abandonment as follows: "A runner who discontinues his advance or return to a base, progresses a reasonable distance toward his dugout or defensive position, and indicates no intent to reassert his status as a runner, has abandoned his effort to run the bases. The cause of his actions are irrelevant."

As you can see in your play, abandonment was NOT an issue because as you say in your post the runner only took 4-5 steps and also the runner showed his intent to get back to second base once the ball was not gloved by the fielder. In 11 years, doing over 200 games per year, I have not once called a runner out for abandonment. There was one situation that I could have potentially called it per the rule. This is the situation:

Bottom of the 7th (7 inning game) home team down by 1. 2 outs. Bases loaded. Pitcher is unable to throw strikes and walks the batter. Home team is elated and everyone touches their correct bases except for R1 who gets half way and stops, then proceeds to celebrate with his teammates. Fortunately, the run scored before R1 actually abandoned the basepath. This becomes a time play, I never called the out and the visiting team was not paying attention as they could have appealed R1 never touched 2b which would have negated the run given it was a force out.

Just thought I'd throw in another possibility although I would like to reiterate that it would most certainly not come into play in the situation that you have presented.

Thanks for the responses, guys. I thought I had made the right call but wasn't sure because of the abandonment issue. I talked with an umpire at my next game who said he would have called him out for abandonment. It seems to me it would have to be much more than 4-5 steps out of the baseline to be considered abandonment.