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FED Rule Set: Situation #1) Bunted ball up first base line. Fielded by catcher. Catcher does not throw the ball, claims runner was out of the running lane and he did not want to hit the BR as he might get injured. If one assumes BR is definitely out of the lane, would you call "Interference-BR is out" or "That's Nothing"? NFHS Rule 8-4-1g notes a runner is out when he runs outside the three-foot running lane, while the ball is being fielded or thrown to first base. I envision the "being fielded" portion to mean only if say F1, F2, or F3 are trying to field the batted ball near the first base foul line and the runner makes contact with the fielder the umpire ruled had protection from contact (and assuming the BR was not in the running lane). This portion of the rule is not relevant to answer the question above; however, the "thrown to first base" portion of the rule indicates to me that a throw must be made in order to get interference. Let me know what you guys think. Situation #2) Hit and Run in effect, R1 on First. Batter steps and swings at an outside pitch and does not make contact with the ball. His swing causes him to step over the plate blocking the catcher. There is no contact between the catcher and batter. Catcher does not throw to second base claiming the batter was blocking his throw. Is a throw required in order to call BI here? NFHS Rule 7-5-(a thru d) address BI. The rule says at batter shall not (5) Interfere with the catcher's fielding or throwing by: (a) leaning over home plate, (b) stepping out of the batter's box, © making any other movement, including backswing interference, which hinders actions at home plate or the catcher's attempt to play on a runner...... Now if we have contact in Situation #2, it makes it easy for us to rule BI. However, we don't have that in this OP. If there is no throw, how can be judge whether the catcher was "attempting to play on a runner"? Was is your reasoning to call BI or not call BI in this situation?