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To answer your questions and not necessary in order.....either umpire can call obstruction, however I will agree that the obstruction call should have been made immediately if the plate umpire believed that obstruction had taken place.
"the shortstop misses the ball and then the runner runs into the shortstop."
This sounds like a play that should be seen in order for us to rule on as timing is everything, however it sounds like obstruction may have been the correct rule. If the fielder is done making an attempt at the ball and is blocking the path of the runner, you have obstruction...remember obstruction does not have to be intentional.......by the same token if the fielder was still in the act of attempting to field the ball then you could have had interference. Again it all depends on the timing....you said that the shortstop missed the ball, but later you said that she was in the act of making the initial play.....whatever she was doing makes a difference on what call should have been made.
"the base umpire...who has the play happen right in front of him and sees everything...does not call anything other than calling the runner out at 3rd....."
actually this should have been the plate umpires call.....The throw came from the outfield so the plate umpire would have the lead runner.....
As for changing a call on appeal.....Like I said the call should have been made immediately....however I don't believe that there is anything prohibiting us from making an obstruction call on appeal and if there is I'm sure somebody will correct me....we do want to try and get the call correct. It sounds like this was an inexperienced group of umpires that I doubt have sat through the countless hours of obstruction/interference discussions that many of us have sat through so we are prepared for plays like this.
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