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Discussion: Hr or out

League only requires that 1st base be touched and baserunners advance one base after hitting homerun, much like most of Senior Softball. Leadoff hitter hits one out and proceeds to run all bases but touches the wrong home plate. What do you call it?? Out or Homerun?
Imo hr. He fulfilled the requirement of touching first base.
I would say that he's out. If the runner voluntarily elects to run around all the bases then why wouldn't he have to touch the proper home plate?
I agree with BruceinGa that batter is safe once he touches first base. Change the scenario slightly. Batter hits a long ball, hoping for a double, maybe a triple, so he barrels down to first only to see that the ball has flown over the fence as he makes the turn at first. He strolls back to pick up his bat and in doing so steps on home plate. Out? I think not. Once ump has called home run, and batter touches first, he can run around the bases, do cartwheels, moon the opposing team's dugout, go back for his bat, whatever and it is still a homerun. However, some of these activities are not recommended if he is the pitcher as the other team might choose to buzz the control tower in their next at bat.
If you notice the ump will stop watching the runner after 1st is touched as the play is dead at that point.
In SPA it is "Hit & Sit". The ump stops watching when the ball clears the fense. The batter can walk directly from the batters box to the dougout.
Omar and Bruce are correct in their ruling of the play as described by hitman.
For 500 pts and a chance for a bonus question what would be the ruling if say, the bases were loaded, 2 outs, batter hits an over the fence hr, but the runner at third touched the wrong home plate?
Hi Stick8-force at home, no runs score. In our 'automatically score without touching all the bases on a home run game, I can't believe you would allow the 3 runs behind the third out to score. We had a situation similar to that in Iowa in a State Championship baseball game in about 1970 where our guy hit a grand slam with 2 outs but missed first base. On appeal-no runs were allowed.
stick8, I would think third out at home...and a very angry home run hitter (not to mention coach), but if crusher is correct, the ump is not even watching the runners on base, but following the ball to see if it clears the fence, then to see if the hitter touches first, and then stops watching or just senses that the runners went toward the next base. Unless the runner on third ran in front of a lazy ump parked behind home, or stepped on his toe, touching the wrong home plate would probably be missed.
Stick,me as an ump on that play I watch all runners because all its gonna take is for a player or coach to see the runners not touch a next base or step on wrong plate and if you're not paying attention you're in for plenty of arguing.. I know as an ump for 20 yrs that in senior ball someone is always watching the plays all the way thru.. So do your self a favor guys and watch the plays all the way thru cause you'll get caught one of these days in a situation ya don't wanna bring on yourself.. also it doesn't have to be a lazy ump ( there are a lot )cause if the balls hit over the fence he/sheis only gonna be by the plate to call HR.. I've yet to see an ump go out much further on HR call..
Webbie for now I'll award you the 500 pts!! I'll let SSUSA be the final call on this but I believe your correct.
Omar it is the third out at home. I think your right on about an angry home run hitter & coach. I wouldn't want to face either of them if I was the one who touched the wrong plate!! Adding insult to injury the home run counts toward the total allowed.
Vinny in this scenario I'd walk the line up third base to get the best angle to make sure all runners touch a base. Like Omar elluded to and you touched on some umps will simply sense runners touched the one base they are required to without actually seeing it.
You all make valid points and clearly make a strong case that all home runs should be hit and sit. As a USSSA umpire our rule is all hr's are hit and sit--even on a ball that is tipped over the fence by an outfielder--a 4 base error.
I never played hit and sit, although it makes a lot of sense. However, I bet there are times on a sweltering afternoon when the hitter stands there admiring his "home run", only to see it hit high on the fence and then he has to hustle to try to get a double out of it.
Omar - I have seen the stand and watch for only a single.

It is a good feeling to hit and watch then walk to the dougout. Note the hit & sit is SPA, in SSUSA all must touch 1 base as I understand.
In 2011 in the TOC 55AAA Championship Game I had already hit one out in the first inning. In the second inning I got up with the fifth run on 3 and one out. Trying to punch a fly ball, I accidentally hit one out for a wasted Home Run (It was an out after 3 HR's then). I was upset, afraid that would hurt us later in the game, and never touched first. I found out later the ump did call me out for not touching, but thankfully it was only the second out and didn't matter. I still touch first now-and did on every one in Dalton, too, despite people telling me I don't have to.
I had the missfortune of hitting one out with the bases loaded my first time up playing senior ball, rounded the bases and touching home plate was called out. Don't know if that would be called a grand slam or not,,, that was in 97 and can't remember if you had to run the bases or not that long ago, but was still out....
Lets get real technical
Bases loadeed much touch next base after homerun
Runner on Third touched wrong plate and called out
No runs would score and the homerun counts against teams total

No that would be a back breaker
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