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Time for me to repectfully disagree, Bob. NCAA rule 4-9 speaks about Nongame Personnel Interference, and it outlines who Nongame Personnel are: anyone OTHER THAN players, coaches, or umpires. NCAA rule 5-3 says, "No offensive team memebers, EITHER IN OR OUT OF THE LINEUP, shall physically or verbally hinder, confuse or impede any defensive player who is attempting to make a play. PENALTY - The umpire shall call offensive interference and call out the runner on whom the play was attempted, or would have been attempted."
Did the offense interfere? Yes. Does it matter if it was intentional or not? No. In this case, the umpire should call an out - but who becomes the question. I'd call out the guy on third, and put the BR on 1st and the runner from 1st on second. Then I'd quickly circle the wagons, make sure my gun was loaded, signal my wife to start the car, and make a break for it!
A very similar situation was on the 2001 NCAA test, though the offensive team memeber's interference was not intentional. Is my answer right? I'm not sure, but I have rules in black and white to back it up. And the offensive team knows better than to interfere with a fair (in this case) batted ball.
See you tomorrow in Crystal Lake, Bob!
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