Rule 8.1 (I) states when umpire has called 4 balls or walk issued, all runners must touch all bases in order. IF the bases are loaded, the 5th run is on 3rd, and the walked batter goes into the dugout rather than touching first base, does any rule cover sending the walked batter from the dugout area back out to first base. ie: when is it too late to send the runner to 1st?
Larry.. once the B/R enters the dugout he has been determined to have abandoned his base running duties and should be called out immediately and all runners are to be returned to the base they were on prior to the walk
Larry.. 1 other thing on runners not advancing.. if the runner on 1st didn't advance to 2B and abandoned the bag and entered the dugout he would be called out and the 5th run would still score "IF" his out was not the 3rd out of the inning
Lesson here is to "run" everything out...always! It is not that difficult to show those in attendance a little effort. Maybe the "youth" watching can continue to learn some new tricks from us old dogs :)
A different spin on the question: Batter will need a courtesy runner if he reaches base. Batter walks on four pitches, as he is walking to first, the first base coach is announced as the courtesy runner and takes his position on the base before the batter got there.
Batter never took is place at first. The HU umpire ruled that the courtesy runner illegally entered the game and declared an out.
