On a fly ball caught in fair ground, the throw to second to double up a runner who left base too soon results in:

• A. The ball is dead and the out at second is not counted.
• B. The ball stays live and in play; the catch is recorded along with the out at second base.
• C. The ball is dead after the out.
• D. The batter is awarded first base.

Answer: (B)

When a fair fly ball is caught, the batter is out, but the ball remains live long enough for any base runners to attempt to advance or be put out on the same play. If a runner leaves the base too soon and is thrown out at a different base, that out is recorded in the same continuous play as an additional out, and the ball stays in play to allow the throw. So you end up with the catch resulting in one out and the runner who left early being out on the throw to second; both outs are counted. The ball isn’t dead at the moment of the catch, and the batter isn’t awarded first base.