Base on Balls and Runner stealing Third...

[ColtsFastpitch]

Runner on second
batter at the plate
ball four called....
So Far so Good. Batter-runner runs (still in the Box) towards First.

Runner on second is stealing third

Catcher collides with batter-runner as she move towards first, and cannot throw out the runner at third.

The Call from the umpire is......?

 

[wannaplaysb]

Catcher has to let the batter cross. Judgment call.

 

[BretMan2]

No call, live ball, play on.

If this was a batter (ie: a batter who had not yet completed her time at bat) and she interfered with the catcher then she would be out. But this was a batter-runner, with the right to advance to first base. As long as that's all she was doing (I assume she wasn't doing anything to intentionally impede the catcher), then the catcher would need to work around her to create a throwing lane, same as any other fielder would anywhere else on the field with any other legally advancing runner.

 

[FP1088]

This very thing just happened in my daughters high school game the other day. Blue called the batter out for interference.

 

[BretMan2]

This very thing just happened in my daughters high school game the other day. Blue called the batter out for interference.

Unless I'm just totally missing something here (it's been known to happen ) that doesn't sound right to me.

It seems that the umpire applied the rule for batter interference, which would be correct if this was still a "batter". As a "batter-runner" who is entitled to run the bases, the same interference rules don't apply.

Batters at the plate when the catcher makes a play to a base may not interfere by moving around inside the batter's box or by moving out of the box. They can legally "maintain their batting position" in one spot inside the box and the catcher has to work around them.

But a batter whose at-bat has been completed is now a batter-runner and they are allowed to be exiting the batter's box to run to first base. A catcher should recognize that and adjust her throwing lane accordingly.

I'd be interested to see what any others have to say about this play.

 

[SoCal_Dad]

What about a retired batter (e.g. struck out)? I presume they are only protected if they "maintain their batting position."

 

[BretMan2]

Yes, a batter who has just struck out can avoid interference with the catcher by holding their spot while the throw is being made.

 

[ColtsFastpitch]

Ball four was called and the batter moved toward First, thus being a batter runner. Umpire called the runner on THIRD out for interference by the batter runner.