correctable error

Question
In a co-ed s-ball game with a runner on 1st base and one out the batter hit a ball down the 1st base line which the umpire called foul before it passed 1st base. The ball rolled back into fair territory before passing the base. The 1st baseman grabbed the ball stepped on 1st and threw to 2nd to get the runner going to 2nd. The umpires ruled it was a correctable error and since it put the runners in jeopardy they awarded the runner at 1st, second base and the batter 1st base. This ruling seems strange to me. Was this the right ruling? If not, what should it of been?

Answer
Good morning Sherry,

I always like it when umpires want to get it right.  This is a difficult situation.

I assume that if no call would have been made the batter-runner would have made 1st base and r1 would have made 2nd base as the defense could not make a play.  I also assume the b-r and r1 did not run when foul ball was called.  I can live with this call as the final scenerio was what would have happened.  They did put the b-r and r1 in jeopardy.

But... when we call a "foul ball" both arms go up signaling  "dead ball and by association "time"".  The defense could make an excellent arguement that "dead ball" had been called and r1 stays on 1st and the batter returns to bat.  When we have "dead ball and by association time" all play stops.

I remember being involved in 1995 in a men's class A state tournament.  A pitch was on the way and the field umpire mistakenly called time.  The ball was hit and a fly ball was caught for an out (it was a big out in the game).  The offense argued that time was called.  It so happened one the "BIG BOSSES" of ASA was there.  He stated the ball (meaning the pitch)  "was forever suspended in mid air".

I think the better call is that a foul ball and by association "time and dead ball" was mistakenly called.  R1 returns to 1st base and batter returns to the box.  If I was UIC of a tournament and the defense appealed the call to me, this would be my decision based on my understanding of your question. The offense isn't going to like it. My umpires would just have to eat this one.

Hope this helps.
Mark