Interference????

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High School game this weekend;

Runner on 3rd with 1 out, batter hits a pop foul between the 3rd base coaches box and the fence. The third baseman collides with the base runner in foul territory while attempting to get to the ball (which is also in foul territory). It is questionable whether or not the ball could have been caught and it would have required a supreme effort to get there.

Is this interference on the part of the base runner?

The umpire called inference on the play but a 30 year ump who was standing next to me didn't think it was the right call. Now i've gotta know.....

 

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It's only interference if the runner's action prevented the fielder from making a catch. That's the big variable on this play, because whether or not a catch could be made is entirely up to the umpire's judgment.

 

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I would expect my baserunner to be called out if it was judged the ball was catchable and she interacted with the fielder to the point that she was unable to catch the ball. The only exception I could think of, and it may very well not be an exception, would be if she was standing on the base, but I still think the runner has to allow the fielder a clear path to the ball...?

 

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Ooh ... I'd like to know that one too, Centerville ... I'd like to think that the runner on the base would not have to move at all ... I mean otherwise she would be putting herself in a position to be tagged out if the ball is caught ...

 

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All of this begs the question, what WAS the the runner on 3rd doing in foul territory if the ball was so far foul that it would have required extreme effort to catch it?

 

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If the baserunner is totally on the base, and she does not intentionally impede someone on defense from making a play other than standing directly on the base, there is no runner interference.

Len

 

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All of this begs the question, what WAS the the runner on 3rd doing in foul territory if the ball was so far foul that it would have required extreme effort to catch it?

I would assume she was firing off the base at the pitchers release (leading off), and the runner should be in foul territory just outside the third base line.

Len

 

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I guess I could envision that, especially if the 3rd baseperson was playing in for the bunt and would have to make a play back on the ball that could possibly intersect with the base runner . But given that it was a "pop foul" I still have my doubts about whether that baserunner should have been in foul territory at the time of contact or should have already returned to the base.

 

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I guess I could envision that, especially if the 3rd baseperson was playing in for the bunt. But given that it was a "pop foul" I still have my doubts about whether that baserunner should have been in foul territory at the time of contact or should have already returned to the base.

I see where you are going with this CGS, forward thinking as usual.