Interference with Fielder - Batted Ball

Blue37 · #1 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 07, 2005, 12:14pm

My summer league uses OBR with minor modifications, none of which impact this question. We had our qualifying test Saturday, and this question was asked:

R2, no outs. Ground ball to F6. R2 interferes with F6 as he runs to 3rd. Despite the interference, F6 is able to field the ball and throw the batter-runner out at 1st.

The test was multiple choice with the posibility of several correct answers. The answer key stated R2 stays at third and the batter-runner is out at first.

Is this the correct ruling for OBR? How about for Fed? Would a change in the number of outs impact the ruling? What if there were runners on 1st and 2nd?

#2 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 07, 2005, 12:46pm

The question says that R2 interfered with F6. At that point it's "Time! That's interference, runner is out. BR first." it makes no difference if he made the throw or not because at the point of interference the ball is dead. If they are saying there wasn't an actual interference then the play is as given. It's a bad question for the answer given. This is true in all codes.

[Edited by Michael Taylor on Mar 8th, 2005 at 08:10 AM]

mcrowder · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 07, 2005, 04:33pm

Additional note - if there were runners at 1st and 2nd, and umpire deemed the act to be intentional to break up the DP, he'd be out and the batter would be out as well.

One note Michael didn't emphasize enough. The ball is DEAD at the moment of interference. What happens after that is completely irrelevant.