Is this interference?

[Umpy]

Working 3-man (state championships), modified high school rules for 3rd and 4th graders, 60 ft bases.

Gentle grounder towards 3rd, runner coming in from 2nd, F5 attempts to field the ball, but fails because he's a little kid, and it bounces forward from him. F5 is standing in the baseline during this attempt, so R2 is running to avoid, but he's running in front of F5, thus when F5 fails to field the ball, it rolls right between R2's feet interfering with F5's attempt to recover.

I saw it as nothing in that its unreasonable at that point for the runner to have to avoid the error, but as soon as the inning was over 1st base umpire was all "Why didn't you call that interference???"

[yawetag]

Was the fielder within a "step and a reach" of the ball? If so, INT.

[Rich Ives]

Working 3-man (state championships), modified high school rules for 3rd and 4th graders, 60 ft bases.

Gentle grounder towards 3rd, runner coming in from 2nd, F5 attempts to field the ball, but fails because he's a little kid, and it bounces forward from him. F5 is standing in the baseline during this attempt, so R2 is running to avoid, but he's running in front of F5, thus when F5 fails to field the ball, it rolls right between R2's feet interfering with F5's attempt to recover.

I saw it as nothing in that its unreasonable at that point for the runner to have to avoid the error, but as soon as the inning was over 1st base umpire was all "Why didn't you call that interference???"

If F5 could reach down and pick up the ball from his current position, it's interference.

If he has to chase after it it isn't - and may be obstruction.