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Sam......
If you go back (either on McGriff's or eteamz) there was a long discussion on the BB side of what the definition of "by and infielder meant.
Bob P. is back posting on McG's and if you have a quesion regarding the OBR ruling......you will soon get a 1000 word essay on this very topic.
As you and Steve mentioned......ASA requires that we decide even after the ball has passed an infielder (except the pitcher) that in order for it to be interference, there must be another fielder who was not given an opportunity to make an OUT.
I rarely see this in older age softball......but believe it or not.....in an a single 8U game I called last spring......3 runners were hit with a batted ball
Now the infielders at this age play very close in.....so you will almost always have the ball passing an infielder....and it is HIGHLY unlikely that any F7-F10 (yes....4 outfielders) were hindered in thier chance to make and out.......LIVE BALL.
Tough to explain that one to a coach who grew up watching BB on TV who KNOWS that any time a runner is hit with a batted ball they are out.
As to whether the rules could be clearer.......ASA covers this in POE #37 (2000 book), and in the ASA casebook pages 8-48 and 8-49, FED has a casebook play 8-4-2-E that covers runner interference as well.....for umpire interference in ASA also look at 10-8-D.
The OBR has the JR/JEA/NAPBL manual and such to straighten out such things.....but as I said.....just ask Bob P. and you will get your answer.
Joel
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