[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by Prince

I was PU today for a 13-14 yo Pony game (OBR). One out with R3 when pitcher throws a WP which careens off backstop towards the on-deck batter who reaches down with his bat and taps the ball back to the catcher who is chasing after it. I called TIME! THAT'S INTERFERENCE and called the batter out. Was that the correct call? Doesn't there always have to be an out on interference with the offense. Should R3 have been called out instead with less than 2 out?

If no base runners or R3 and 2 outs, should the call be different?

In this situation the on-deck batter (tapping ball back to F2) is probably helping F2 more than hindering F2 unless F2 was about to pick up ball and then he tapped it in a different direction.

Since we have a wild throw, we need INTENT on the part of the on-deck batter and also was the on-deck batter where he /she can reasonably be expected to be.

The on-deck batter should have left the ball alone, but he actually aided F2 on this one, so at best I would rule "weak interference" meaning put R3 back at third and B1 is up with whatever count he /she had. No outs recorded.


The applicable rule is as follows but as mentioned sounds like the on-deck batter was actually helping out F2 and not hindering him from making a play.

Since your judgement was interference, it's TIME! Interference and r3 is out. All other runners return, B1 up at bat with whatever count he/she had.

OBR 7.11 The players, coaches or any member of an offensive team shall vacate any space (including both dugouts) needed by a fielder who is attempting to field a batted or thrown ball.
PENALTY: Interference shall be called and the batter or runner on whom the play is being made shall be declared out.

Since the play was being made on r3, you call that runner out.

Pete Booth