Interference

[berryman]

This is High School Softball. R1 on first. Ground ball to shortstop who either throws to 2nd covering or steps on bag herslf and fires to first for the double play. R1 does not slide and stays in baseline and does nothing to interfere. Coach wants interference saying his shortstop or 2nd baseman had to alter throw because runner did not slide. Many officials in our organization are calling interfernce and calling batter runner out even if she was safe. High school rule states the runner does not have to slide and is entitled to the baseline running between 1st and 2nd. That is part of the game if the 2nd baseman or shortstop has to alter the throw to get the runner at first. Throws are altered the whole game to get runners out. Now, R1 does some act causing interference of the shortstop or 2nd baseman throwing to first, then we have interference.

I want to bring this up at our umpiring meetings to help youngr officials get this right. Replies, please.