I'm with you on the missing ball. That field (especially a minor league field) is COVERED with stray baseballs, especially out around the bullpens (if they're out in the outfield). It just landed where nobody expected and was mistaken for just another stray ball. It's like "The Purloined Letter" - it was hiding in plain sight.
Yes, the last 2 posters basically got the triple-play trivia question. The way I heard it...runners on 1st and 2nd (nobody out, obviously) and were running with the pitch. The ball is popped up on the 3rd base side of 2nd base. An umpire calls “Infield Fly Rule!” Batter is out and runners advance at their own risk. Well, the guy that was on first doesn’t know what to do so he just keeps on running. The guy that was on second had almost made it to 3rd, but knows he has to get back to 2nd base to not be doubled up (or in this case tripled up!). So, the 2 runners pass each other half-way between 2nd and 3rd. This means the runner that started on 1st base is automatically out, since you can’t pass a runner ahead of you on the basepaths. And, yes, the poor guy that was on 2nd base originally, gets plunked on the head by the ball before he steps back on the bag. Runner off base hit by batted ball is OUT - triple play.
Should have known our smart Freepers would know the answer!