Quote:
Originally Posted by MD Longhorn
From another board... ASA, FED, NCAA interps.
R1 on 3rd, no outs. Uncaught third strike. R1 comes home and touches the plate and then:
A) inches beyond the plate;
B) a step beyond the plate;
C) 3 steps beyond the plate ...
Collides with F2 while F2 is making a throw, causing the throw to go errant. In none of the 3 cases was there any intent on R1's part.
Interference?
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Under high school rules yes this is interference under the definition of the rules. Rule 8-6-16 c would cover this.
"After being declared out or after scoring, a runner interferes with a defensive players opportunity to make a play on another runner. ...."
This rule does not require intent to be called, only that the defensive player be interfered with.
In the case you mention, all three cases have the run scoring and the interference being called, with the runner closest to home being declared out (according to the strict definition of the rules).
With all of that said, I would be getting with my partner on this play to determine if there was a legitimate play to be made on the runner when the contact occurred. I am going to give the benefit of the doubt to the offensive team in this situation that a legitimate play was not being made. To be a legitimate play, in my opinion it must meet the requirement of 2-47-2c "an attempt by a defensive player to retire a runner or batter runner.". If the batter runner is 1 step from 1st base when the interference occurs, I am not ruling that this constitutes a play, thus no interference. If F2 is throwing the ball and the batter-runner is half way to 1st, then I have a play and thus by rule I have to have interference.