This happened in a USSSA slow pitch softball game, but I am looking for what the ruling would be if it happened in baseball.
The SITUATION:
Runners on second and third two outs, batter hits a HR. Runner on second initially misses home plate and one of the bench players congratulating the runners at home stops the runner and pushes him to go touch home. The runners all scored in correct order. Umpire ruled the runner on third safe so one run in, then called the runner on second out because the bench player assisted him. The player who hit the hr, his run didn't count either since there were 2 outs.
Game was protested.
The assisting a runner rule is this: When anyone other than another runner physically assists him while the ball
is in play.
The important phrase being, while the ball is in play. I am under the impression that a ball hit outside of the field (over the fence HR) is not a live ball. Therefore assisting a runner in this situation is perfectly legal.
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