running through first base on a walk

Question
on a walk little league has decided that the runner is only entittled to first base.  in a game the other night i had a girl walk, (we run to first), she ran past the base turned to the right took 4 steps and proceeded to return to the base. as she was returning to the base the pitcher steeped into the circle, immediately the umpire called her out.  i have coached 10 yrs little league never had this called.  i could understand if my runner reached the bag after the ball was in the circle then ran past she could be out, but not if the beats her to the circle after running past it  
                      thanks troy in texas

Answer
Hello Troy

It appears the 揕ook Back?rule was not applied correctly by the umpire in this case. A walk is treated the same as if she batted the ball so she is allowed to run through the first base without liability to be called out even if the pitcher had the ball in the circle. The look back rule (pitcher with ball within the circle) only applies for runners that are between the bases and even then they are not called out immediately if they are off a base. Once the pitcher has the ball within the circle the base runners if on a base most stay there or if off a base must immediately advance or return to a base or risk being called out by the umpire. In other words they can抰 just stand there off a base or dance around off a base trying to draw a throw. The only way your runner could have been called out on the look back rule is if she obviously took a couple of steps towards second base then went back to first while the pitcher had the ball in the circle.