USSSA Florida Mens Softball Division E
Runner on first base when batter hits a single to left field. R2 heading to second base does not advance to 3rd and stays on second base.
Outfielder throws the ball into third base where the ball tips off the 3rd baseman glove and hits the in-the-hole batter who after the hit came out of the dougout to pick up on-deck batters bat "close" to 3rd base, in case there was a potential play at 3rd.
Umpire calls runner on 2nd base out due to a blocked ball by the on "in-the-hole" batter, who was next up to be on deck.
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Ruling from what I was told is:
Effect Sec 5 B-E. It is a dead ball immediately and the involved base runner is out.
K. When a member of the offensive team of their equipment causes a blocked ball.
Effect Sec 5 F-K. The infraction constitutes INTERFERENCE. All play stops; the ball is dead and the MOST ADVANCE RUNNER IS CALLED OUT. NOTE: In "G" immediately above, team members include all other persons who are on the teams bench.
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Interference is defined as:
Is an act where players or others interfere with a players opportunity.. There are three types of interference:
A) Offensive interference - When a player interferes with or impedes or confuses a defensive player while he is attempting to make a play. This can occur by either physical or vocal actions.
B) Spectator interference - Occurs when a person not engaged in the game touches a live batted or thrown ball which could prevent a blocked ball to occur or when a person not engaged in the game physically interferes when a players opportunities.
C) Umpire Interference - Doesn't apply.
Blocked Ball Definition: is a batted or thrown ball that is touched, stopped, or handled by a spectator or person not engaged in the game, or that touches any object which is not part of the legal official equipment, or which hits or goes beyond a designated out of play area.
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So the argument really is "a player engaged in the game". From research on MLB.com rules, a player is engaged in the game if he's on the roster. That constitutes pitchers in the pin, runners on base , players in the doug out and yes, even players that are in the wrong place at the wrong time near the 3rd base side in foul territory.
A player not engaged in the game is someone like a police officer, a players kid in the dougout, a security guard, a fan etc.
Where in this case, it can't be deemed a "blocked ball", which would not apply to the above rule where advanced runner would be out.
It was my understanding that "interference" must be with a fielder "ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A PLAY". A "PLAY" is an act of throwing, a tag attempt of a runner or a base. An out is not simply called because the fielder could have, or should have, or would have, or might have, had a play.
Therefore neither blocked ball or interference apply and the play is just dead, no runners advance and there is no out.
Correct?
Thanks
