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Originally Posted by softballistough
Please clarify Irishmafia. When is a runner running in front of a fielder interfering and when is she not?
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It is interference when the runner commits an act of interference. Simply running in front of a fielder is nothing more than doing what s/he is supposed to be doing. Same thing with leaping over the ball. If done in full stride, it is nothing more than the runner advancing to the next base.
Now, if the runner hesitates/stops to time their passing in front with that of the ball, then the runner is no longer attempting to advance, but to interfere with the fielder. If the runner makes any physical move not associated with their natural running fashion, that
could be interference. If a runner screams or verbally distracts the fielder, that
could be interference.
There is no rule stating that a runner must forfeit their right to advance to the next base because there is a batted in the vicinity, just that the runner no interfere with the fielder attempting to field the batted ball.