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interference?
I'm probably reading too much into this but I had the following situation happen this weekend. USSSA fastpitch rules but I'd like to hear from any of you.
I'm in C with bases loaded, outs don't really matter. Wild pitch comes in low and inside and gets by catcher. R1 is off and trying for home. Batter bails and runs toward 3rd base dugout to clear home plate area. Ball goes by catcher, quickly bounces hard off the wooden planks on the backstop, and ricochets toward batter who is now 10-12 feet toward 3rd base dugout and still moving. Ball hits her in the foot and then travels another 5-6 feet (she actually kind of kicked it, although she had no idea that she had).
Before the ball made contact with the batter, the catcher didn't know where the ball was and was standing in the area behind the plate as R1 was almost home (she scores). When the contact was made by the bailed out batter (with the ball traveling another few feet), R2 (and now at third) decided to try for home. She made it while the defense finally figured out what just happened and started moving toward the ball. The bailed out batter was no longer near the ball when the catcher started to get near it. Another run scores. Plate ump rules no interference because of the idea that the batter was doing what she was supposed to do and that the catcher or any other player wasn't making a play (going for the ball). Coaches complained some, but lived with the ruling.
I've went both ways as I thought about this. USSSA 7-12 speaks of hindering action at home or a catchers attempt to make a play on a runner. If the catcher wasn't moving toward the ball could she be considered making a reasonable attempt at a play? Didn't the runner completely vacate the area? Or was this simple interference all the way? Once again any ruleset references/interpretations would be good.
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