Softball Tagging Up, Appeal

Question
We play softball pursuant to ASA rules.

Here is the situation:

Runner on 2nd base, no one out.  Runner attempts to steal, but batter hits a short foul pop.  Catcher comes out from behind the plate and makes the catch, batter out, then throws to 3rd.  Runner slides in under the tag, but the runner is tagged.  Umpire says that the fact that the runner was on 3rd base when tagged, makes her safe and the only way to, in a sense, get her out was to throw the ball back to 2nd and appeal that she left early the base early as an appeal play.

I thought that the appeal play was where the umpire didn't see the runner leave early, not where they clearly did.  IF the umpire SEES the runner leave early, the ball is caught and the runner tagged prior to returning to their correct base, isn't the runner out?

Confusing...

Answer
Hi Robert,

Let's start with this.... "I thought that the appeal play was where the umpire didn't see the runner leave early, not where they clearly did."

This would be incorrect, we never call a runner out if we did not see what happened.  I mean you can "appeal" all you want but if the umpire didn't see it, you're not going to get it.

"IF the umpire SEES the runner leave early, the ball is caught and the runner tagged prior to returning to their correct base, isn't the runner out?"

In softball a runner leaving the base too early on a caught fly ball is an "Appeal" play by the defense.  Regardless of what the umpire saw, leaving early on a caught fly ball, missing a base and some other plays the umpire does not call the out w/out a defensive appeal.  Nor should any umpire give a clue as to what they saw.

Now in your OP, you have an attempted steal and a late tag on THAT play.  You have a safe call by the umpire, correct so far.  NOW you appeal the base left too early too the umpire and because the runner was tagged (doesn't matter if they were on 3rd), you have an out.  OR you could throw the ball back to 2nd and state your appeal.  The umpire was incorrect on the call if you stated your appeal.

If the ball was dead and the runner still on 3rd any infielder w/ or w/out the ball can simply state "R1 left too early" and you get a dead ball appeal out.

Mark