Batter/Runner Kicking Ball

[AJA51385]

I had a situation last week in Senior Ruth that I wanted to share with the masses. I had the plate, we had R2 and 2 outs, 2 strikes on the batter, and swinging strike 3 on a ball that bounced well in front of the plate and ricocheted hard off the catcher and down the first base line. The catcher jumped up, batter broke for first, but in his haste the BR ended up kicking the ball well into foul ground beyond the 1B dugout.

 

I was momentarily and partially screened by the catcher and didn't make an immediate call, however before I could do anything my partner came running in signaling the BR 'out' for interference, which ended the inning. No one protested given how far the ball had been kicked.

 

My take on this is that per 7.09(a), the BR making contact with the ball on a 'dropped-third' situation is not an automatic out if he merely grazes it and the catcher still has an opportunity to make a play, but where in this case the catcher had no chance at all, it would be interference - whether or not there was intent on the part of the BR

 

Anyone care to weigh in?

[johnpatrick]

Correct call.

PBUC 7.16 BATTER INTERFERES AFTER THIRD STRIKE NOT CAUGHT Official Baseball Rule 7.09( a) provides that the batter-runner be called out for interference if “after a third strike he clearly hinders the catcher in his attempt to field the ball.” Such batter-runner is out, the ball is dead, and all other runners return to the bases they occupied at the time of the pitch. The associated comment to Official Baseball Rule 7.09( a) states if the pitched ball deflects off the catcher or umpire and subsequently touches the batter-runner, it is not considered interference unless, in the judgment of the umpire, the batter-runner interferes with the catcher fielding the ball. NOTE: It does not matter if the batter-runner is in the vicinity of home plate or up the first baseline when the infraction occurs. The location of the batter-runner is not relevant.

 

[noumpere]

Intent would be required in FED and NCAA.