Stolen Base Scoring Question

[DurfWerzel]

I have a question regarding the stolen base section listed here:

http://nfca.org.ismmedia.com/ISM2/Mu...nager/ATEC.pdf

in the nfca rules regarding when to credit a stolen base, it says:

1) On a double steal attempt in a first and third situation
where an unsuccessful but legitimate effort is made to
put out the runner stealing second base, credit a stolen
base even if the runner on third is thrown out at home
on a continuous play.

2) In a first and third double steal credit the runner
advancing to second with a fielder's choice if the initial
throw is to anywhere but second base.

3) In the first and third double steal, credit the runner
advancing to second base with a stolen base if no throw
is made (unless indifference because of a lopsided
score was the cause of no defensive action), even if the
advance was made immediately after rounding on a
walk,

My main question is what defines a double steal? Is it automatically a double steal simply because there is a runner on 3rd? In the particular situation in question, the catcher threw to short, not the bag, and the runner at 3rd made no attempt to take home on the throw.

The scorekeeper didn't award a SB based on the throw not going to the bag. The upset parent is arguing that #3 applies because the SS chose to cut the attempt that was supposed to go to the bag, (thereby satisfying the first part of #1 and the fact that there was on runner on 3rd regardless of the runner's actions constitutes a double steal)

To me, the play is a potential double steal and the cut throw constitutes an FC, because the fielder chose to prevent a run from scoring rather than take the out at 2nd.

Thanks in advance for your wisdom.

[PDad]

You've taken those scoring rules out of context. The 3 cases you quoted are under:

b - When any runner is thrown out on an attempted double or triple steal, no runner will be credited with a stolen base.

In this context, #2 would be they got the runner at third without an initial attempt on the runner going to second base. This wouldn't apply in your situation since they didn't get an out.

The NCAA rules have a similar structure, although different rulings:

14.15.2 A stolen base is not credited to any runner when any other runner is thrown out on an attempted double or triple steal.
Exceptions:
1. On a double-steal attempt, with runners at first and third, an unsuccessful but legitimate attempt was made to put out the runner stealing second base, and the runner at third is thrown out at home plate on a continuous play.
2. With runners at first and third, credit a stolen base to the runner advancing to second base even if the initial throw is not to second base. The base runner must show the intent to steal.
3. With runners at first and third, credit a stolen base to the runner advancing to home plate even if the initial throw is not to third base. The base runner must show the intent to steal.
4. With runners on first and third, credit a stolen base to the runner advancing to second base if no throw is made even if the advance was immediately after a base on balls.

[DurfWerzel]

The NCAA version is very clear because it addresses a first and third situation without using "double steal". If we were playing under NCAA rules, then the scorekeeper should have given the runner a SB. But I can't find anything in the NFCA rules that specifically address first and third without using double steal in it.

So if the three sections I listed only apply in a situation where an out is made on a multiple steal attempt, am I right in assuming that a cut throw to shortstop with no attempt by the runner at 3rd to take home would simply be an FC and covered under the opening paragraph of the stolen base section?

Credit a stolen base to a runner who advances a base unaided by a safe hit,
putout, error, force out, fielder's choice, illegal pitch, base on balls, hit batter, wild
pitch, passed ball, interference or obstruction.

[PDad]

The NCAA version is very clear because it addresses a first and third situation without using "double steal". If we were playing under NCAA rules, then the scorekeeper should have given the runner a SB. But I can't find anything in the NFCA rules that specifically address first and third without using double steal in it.

The NCAA rules are addressing the first and third situations "on an attempted double or triple steal" just like NFCA. The only difference is NCAA does not repeat it on the individual cases.

So if the three sections I listed only apply in a situation where an out is made on a multiple steal attempt, am I right in assuming that a cut throw to shortstop with no attempt by the runner at 3rd to take home would simply be an FC and covered under the opening paragraph of the stolen base section?

Credit a stolen base to a runner who advances a base unaided by a safe hit,
putout, error, force out, fielder's choice, illegal pitch, base on balls, hit batter, wild
pitch, passed ball, interference or obstruction.

I don't see an applicable rule in the NFCA section for fielder's choice. I wouldn't call it defensive indifference.

The most applicable NFCA rule I've seen is in Stolen Bases:
f - If a runner advances to a base because of a pick play on another runner, only score a stolen base If you are sure she broke for the next base prior to the release of the catcher's throw.