Interfering With The Umpire

[nickrego]

16 – 18 YRO HS Fall Ball, working alone (102 deg. – 9 inning game).

R2 & R3

BR hits a grounder into center field.

I slide up the 3rd base line a little to cover a throw to 3rd on R2 (R3 scores easily). R2 rounds 3rd and is heading home. I turn to move back to the plate to find R2 running backwards in foul territory directly at me. I was able to avoid the collision and the runner scored without a throw home. Why R2 was back-peddling up the line when his dugout was on the 1st base side I will never know.

My question is, what if there had been a play on R3 at home and R2 had blasted into me and taken me out of the play, so that I did not see what happened at Home Plate ?

Safe or Out ? Interference ? Obstruction of Justice ?

I have had games where my partners have been taken out, but I was there to make the call. This is the first time ‘I’ have come close to being taken out, and it got me to thinking about what I should do.

Thanks,