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Middle school game yesterday. Runner on 2nd, one out. 1-1 count on right-handed batter. Ball in the dirt between batter and plate. Runner takes off for third. Got a good jump and would have been safe even if the catcher would have come up with the ball. Unsure of where the ball is, batter moves left and back. She ends up getting tangled up with the catcher. Umpire calls runner out for batter interference. I didn't argue but I asked him to explain. I told him that the batter's actions weren't intentional and she was making an attempt to get out of the way. He said it doesn't matter and that she has a right to only the batter's box and that is it. If she stays there she is fine but if she moves out she can be called out for interference. I asked him if there is a passed ball and a runner coming home with the pitcher covering the plate if the batter is in the box in a line between the catcher and the plate can the runner just stand in the way as long as she is in the box. He said, no, in that case she has to move. I said "so sometimes she has a right to the batter's box and sometimes she doesn't??" He said that is correct.
Given the original situation as described, does what the batter did constitute interference and should the runner going to third have been called out?
Given the original situation as described, does what the batter did constitute interference and should the runner going to third have been called out?