[Tru_in_Blu]

ASA Rule 8 Section 2

H. When the batter-runner steps back toward home plate to avoid or delay a tag by a fielder.

EFFECT - Section 2 D-H: The ball is dead and runner(s) must return to the
last base legally touched at the time of the interference.

My situation occurred a couple of weeks ago in a slow pitch league. R1 on third base and 2 outs. The batter hit a hard shot to F3 which bounced off him and back toward home plate. Both R1 and batter broke for home and 1B, respectively. By the time F3 retrieved the ball he was 12-15' inside the diamond. The batter continued running, actually slowing down when he saw F3 pick up the ball and basically gave himself up to a tag. Force play at 1B for the third out and the run did not count.

Then I thought about the "what-if". If the batter had the presence of mind to realize what was going on, he could have run down the line far enough to have F3 approach him for the tag, then stopped. Once he realized that R1 had crossed home plate, and before he was tagged out, he could have taken a step back toward home plate to delay the tag. At this point, he should be called out for interference. And now, there were no remaining baserunners [he already crossed the plate] to return to the last base legally touched.

Now here's what I expect. Some opinions based on emotion, experience, what should be or not be. Does anyone have a definitive rule reference? BTW, this is where I get in trouble when I take the ASA Umpire Exam every year. I've been told not to read too much into the question(s), but unless there's a specific reference I tend to want to argue the point.

But that's just me... I was that player/coach who actively sought out these kinds of situations in an effort to get an advantage. Still playing within the rules, just understanding them better that the other team. I think that's why 2 different UICs recruited me to "the dark side". It took a while, but I'm here now. Still being creative, however.

Ted