Runners on first and third…one out…home team batting….long inning. Despite frequent communication on number of outs, batter pops out for second out and a handful of defensive players run off the field thinking third out. The rest of the team follows. My partner and I make eye contact. confirm just 2 outs. In the meantime, the runner on third assumes 3 outs also and heads to dugout. After a few seconds, players realize that there are just 2 outs and a mad scramble ensues to get back onto the field. Runner on first, who knew the outs, races to second. Runner who had been on third returns to third. Everything settles.
Question…Where is the point of no return for the runner who had been on third? Would he be the third out had he entered the dugout?
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