Interference?

[berns_97]

I was reading some stuff online and taking some situations quizzes and came upon a question and wanted to see what you guys say. 

 

First base is unoccupied and B1 ha 0-2 count. B1 swings and misses at a pitch in the dirt. The ball is deflected off the catcher and into the path of BR who unintentionally kicks the ball as he leaves the batter's box and reaches 1st base.

 

Just want to see what you guys say because even though it said that its a live ball and if the BR reached 1st hes safe i thought that when a BR or R interferes with a ball on purpose or not they are called out.

[basejester]

It's explicitly not interference in Fed.  There's a case play exactly covering this situation.

 

There's not a consensus in OBR.

[basejester]

Fed casebook:

 

2.21.1 Situation C

With 2 outs, B3 strikes out, but F2 drops the ball, which rebounds into B3's base path.  As B3 begins running to first, B3 accidentally kicks ball.  RULING: B3 is not guilty of interference and the ball remains live, unless in the umpire's judgment B3 intentionally kicked the ball  (8-4-1a).

[basejester]

I asked the same question recently.  See here:

 

http://umpire-empire.com/index.php/topic/59005-kicked-uncaught-third-strike/#entry235884

[noumpere]

i thought that when a BR or R interferes with a ball on purpose or not they are called out.

 

That's true when it's a batted ball.  This wasn't a batted ball.

[ThisMayTickle]

This actually happened to me at a scrimmage last week. The coach was upset and thought the BR should be out but the rule is clear if it wasn't intentional, it's a live ball.