Softball Rules: Legitimate Catch & Tagging Up

Question
Scenario:  There are men on bases. There was a fly ball to left field.  The ball went into the left fielders glove, popped back out and went behind him.  The center fielder backing him up caught the ball when it popped out the left fielders glove before it hit the ground.  When the ball hit the left fielder's glove, can the men on base tag up and run, or do they have to wait until the center fielder catches the ball? When was the catch a legitimate catch?

Answer
HI Jerry,

A runner can legally leave the base as soon as a defensive player touches the ball.

In the past I've used the example of a high sharp line drive that the 6'9" F6 leaps for, deflects off the top of his glove and carries into LC where F8 catches it for the out.  R1 can leave as soon as F6 touched the ball.

Legal catch for the out by F9

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