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The purpose of the rule WAS to keep the BRs from interfering with the player receiving the throw at 1B. There was no "clear throwing lanes" to be addressed. The fielder was and still should be responsible to find a throwing lane.
If you abandon the portion of the rule as it refers to the fielder at 1B, you just as well paint a target on the BR. Trust me, been there, done that and it cost the catcher the rest of the game. Also, by eliminating the fielder portion, that means there doesn't need to be anyone there to receive the ball.
Have you ever heard a coach scream at the catcher to "just hit her in the back"? I have and that is the message you are sending by simply ruling INT solely on the BR being hit by the ball.
BTW, I like KR, but not all his interps ring true.
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The bat issue in softball is as much about liability, insurance and litigation as it is about competition, inflated egos and softball.
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