[AtlUmpSteve]

IMO, you are all headed back down the slippery slope that baseball uses to justify not making a call required by rule. The rules, taken by themselves, are exceptionally clear; the runner (or BR) has total right of way to be unhindered EXCEPT when the fielder possesses the ball, or is in the act of fielding it. In all cases of hindrence, the first category is obstruction, the second category is interference.

The rules editors left one and only one very narrowly defined instance when the basic rule above does not apply. They considered a circumstance where the fundamental nature of playing the game creates a proximity between batter and catcher that might not be possible to overlook. So, ONLY the BR and catcher in immediate area of home plate MIGHT be overlooked.

But, you guys have now looked at a play that isn't that one exception, and are looking to expand the exception back to the "she's just doing her job" explanation that ASA and NFHS softball are trying to eliminate. According to the rules of softball, this play is interference. Period. I don't care that F5 was fielding the ball near home or at the first base line; she is fielding a batted ball. I don't care when BR left the batters box, or if the delay was or wasn't intentional. I don't care that it seems to be close to the one exception; it isn't the one exception. If you keep trying to add another layer of exception, you might as well start calling little ball rules; and that is EXACTLY why softball made the rule as clear as it is, to STOP using little ball logic.

This one is black and white, and the discussion is only serving to start confusing those less sure of the rules.