According to the National Federation of State High School Associations ("NFHS") baseball Rule 8-4-2m, any runner is out when the runner “passes an unobstructed preceding runner before such runner is out.”

NFHS Baseball Rule 8-2-4 provides that “If a fair or foul batted ball is caught . . . each base runner shall touch his base after the batted ball has touched a fielder . . ..”

The score is tied.  Runners are on the corners (i.e. runners at first base and third base) with two outs in the second half of the last inning.

The batter swings hitting the ball into the outfield for a base hit which allows the runner on third base to reach home plate apparently breaking the tie and putting the home team ahead.

The runner who is half way to second base, upon seeing the runner from third base touch home plate, throws his hands into the air and runs back to the dugout to join his teammates in a victory celebration.

The visiting team has exhausted their last offensive inning and cannot bat again to overcome any run(s) scored by the home team.

Game over!  Right?

Baseball, like any other game, is created and governed by rules.  Yet baseball seems to be comparatively unique in more than one way. 

As opposed to many other sports played in the United States, such as football, basketball, hockey and soccer, baseball games have no time limit.  Regardless of duration of play, each team is entitled to an equal number of opportunities (i.e. innings) to score runs. 

Another unique feature of baseball is that (unlike other sports played with a ball or the counterpart of a ball such as a puck) it is the only sport in which the team on defense maintains possession of the ball throughout the game.

Some baseball fans and other inquisitive individuals might be interested in the physical thresholds related to hitting a 95 mph fast ball and to know how a pitcher, by proper application of baseball rules, can be awarded two strikes upon throwing one pitch.  How could that be!?