Interference?

[IHSAUmp08]

What's the proper call in a HS game?

Situation: Batter hits ground ball to F6, F6 throws to F3 who while standing completely on first base, fumbles the ball which ends up going through his leggs to the fence. Right after that, the baserunner plows into him and they both fall down. I just called the baserunner safe. The offensive teams coach wanted me to call Interference on F3 for blocking the path of the runner.

What would you have called?

[moblue]

My initial thought is that you made the right call. However, I think interference is probably would have been the right call in this situation since a fielder cannot impede the runner once he is no longer in the act of fielding the ball.

[Big Red]

Not sure about FED, and I don't recall the rule right now, but as I understand from OBR and other leagues, interference applies upon the "initial" play of the ball. Once the fielder has had a chance at the ball and makes an error, interference no longer comes into play and can actually turn to obstruction if the BR or R tries for extra bases.

IMO, you made the right call. I'll see if I can find the reference for you

[Big Red]

IHSA,

After re-reading your 1st post, I felt I should clarify my post above. Looks to me like it's one of those situations where you have to be there to see it all since it's a judgement call...in your judgement, would the BR have reached 2nd if the obstruction did not occur?

From my experience, you would have to look at the timing of the collision...if it happened all about the same time as the ball getting there, then I would not call obstruction (but still not interference).

However, if the ball was already by the F3 and he was attempting to get to the ball when they collided, then we've got obstruction.

Based on the info you've presented (again, respectfully w/ the disclaimer about not being there), I would say it could've gone either way, but feel obstruction would've been a correct call.

[BrianC14]

What's the proper call in a HS game?

Situation: Batter hits ground ball to F6, F6 throws to F3 who while standing completely on first base, fumbles the ball which ends up going through his leggs to the fence. Right after that, the baserunner plows into him and they both fall down. I just called the baserunner safe. The offensive teams coach wanted me to call Interference on F3 for blocking the path of the runner.

What would you have called?

Upon reading this, my first thought was, "Why is this is the 'Funny Stories' section?

Well, it IS funny - that a coach of the team at bat would ask you to call for interference on his batter/runner.

Unless, of course, said coach doesn't know the difference between interference and obstruction.

But that's not all that funny, either. It's pretty sad, actually.

If I take this exactly as you've written it, with the ball going to the fence after an error by either F6 or F3, and F3 stands in the way of the Batter/Runner, then I have OBSTRUCTION, and B/R now becomes either R1 or R2, depending on whether I judge that he might have made it to second base had the OBSTRUCTION not taken place.

[calablue]

Upon reading this, my first thought was, "Why is this is the 'Funny Stories' section?

Well, it IS funny - that a coach of the team at bat would ask you to call for interference on his batter/runner.

Unless, of course, said coach doesn't know the difference between interference and obstruction.

But that's not all that funny, either. It's pretty sad, actually.

If I take this exactly as you've written it, with the ball going to the fence after an error by either F6 or F3, and F3 stands in the way of the Batter/Runner, then I have OBSTRUCTION, and B/R now becomes either R1 or R2, depending on whether I judge that he might have made it to second base had the OBSTRUCTION not taken place.

But Brian, doesn't rule 7.06a apply here? If he is obstructed, I don't see where you have to judge whether he would have made secnd base or not. According to that rule the runner shall be awarded at least one base beyond the base he had last legally touched before the obstruction.

Edited April 3, 2010 by calablue

[LMSANS]

But Brian, doesn't rule 7.06 apply here? If he is obstructed, I don't see where you have to judge whether he would have made secnd base or not. According to that rule the runner shall be awarded at least one base beyond the base he had last legally touched before the obstruction.

When did the ball go out of play?

[yawetag]

But Brian, doesn't rule 7.06 apply here? If he is obstructed, I don't see where you have to judge whether he would have made secnd base or not. According to that rule the runner shall be awarded at least one base beyond the base he had last legally touched before the obstruction.

If the OBS occurred before he physically touched 1B, then he would be awarded 1B by the OBS. If after he touched, 2B is awarded (or more, if warranted).

[calablue]

Larry,

According to the OP it went to the fence but nothing is said about it going out of play. Or if he had already touched the bag at the timeof contact between the two players.

And Yawetag, I agree with that. If OBS occured ....IF he has already touched first, then he is awarded second . If he hasn't already touched first then he is only awarded first.

Edited April 3, 2010 by calablue

[mstaylor]

The OP said the F3 was on top of the base so he gets second in any rulebook. In HS the runner always gets a base, in OBR it's type A so he gets a base. It is possible to award more but it is unlikely. If the ball went out of play then he's getting second only.

[BrianC14]

But Brian, doesn't rule 7.06a apply here? If he is obstructed, I don't see where you have to judge whether he would have made secnd base or not. According to that rule the runner shall be awarded at least one base beyond the base he had last legally touched before the obstruction.

It depends on when the obstruction occurs, and where the ball goes... let's say it's bouncing around the fence in live ball territory, and B/R attempts to get to second base. If I judge that he would have made 2B without the OBS, then you kill the play and put him on second (assuming they got him out at 2nd).

If he hasn't legally acquired 1B at the time of the OBS, you can't automatically put him on 2nd.

[mw94]

Attended Southern Umpires Camp many years ago , Current MLB ump but back then AAA umpire Larry Vanover answer when a OC came asking for INT, when he actually meant OBS, was ok which runner do you want me to call out for INT?

[Umpire in Chief]

Attended Southern Umpires Camp many years ago , Current MLB ump but back then AAA umpire Larry Vanover answer when a OC came asking for INT, when he actually meant OBS, was ok which runner do you want me to call out for INT?

I'll have to use this.

[Big Red]

I'll have to use this.

No kiddin'...that's great!

[IHSAUmp08]

When did the ball go out of play?

The ball never went out of play, it just rolled to the fence, about 6 feet from 1st base. The contact occured after F3 lost the ball. There's no way he would've made it to 2nd. The fence was too close

[LMSANS]

When did the ball go out of play?

Ignore this post.:shakehead:

I misread the quoted post and thought that 2B was awarded for the ball going out of play.

My wife says I make things like this up all the time.:violin:

[mstaylor]

It matters not whether he would have made second or not, it only matters was he obstructed before first or on first . If he is obstructed as he touches first or by it and a play is being made on him then kill it and give him second. If before first then he gets first.

[JaxRolo]

It matters not whether he would have made second or not, it only matters was he obstructed before first or on first . If he is obstructed as he touches first or by it and a play is being made on him then kill it and give him second. If before first then he gets first.

Well Put!! :notworthy:

[HugoTafurst]

It matters not whether he would have made second or not, it only matters was he obstructed before first or on first . If he is obstructed as he touches first or by it and a play is being made on him then kill it and give him second. If before first then he gets first.

Correct, but as I envison the play, there was no play being made on the runner. The obstruction occurred after the play - which is a key factor at least in OBR.

So

[mstaylor]

First, welcome Hugo, good to see you here. I can see your point about whether it is A or B. I had it as A because the play went to the base the runner was running to. I can see where you are saying the ball is past so the play is over. This can be a grey area between the two but I would tend toward A.

Not to ne argumentative but rather to reach a consensus, let's use another play. You have a play on a runner away from the base, but the fielder misses the ball, then collides with the runner trying to chase it. Type A or B?