Interference by Coach

[shimes]

Hey, y'all. I had a tricky one tonight in a key situation in the game, and the coach was really hot. I think I got this right, but I don't know for sure.

Runner on first, nobody out. Pitch for a ball. The catcher snap throws to first. The first base coach is standing near the line in foul territory (maybe three feet away or so), in front of the bag. He doesn't see the throw coming, and flinches out of the way at the last moment. I see the first baseman go for the ball, but then he flinches and acts like he lost the ball, or that he thought he was going to hit the coach if he stabbed at the ball with his glove. The ball goes down the right field line, and the runner moves to second.

I called the play dead when I saw what happened. I went out to talk to my partner, and then I called the runner out for offensive interference because the coach hindered the first baseman's ability to field the throw. I explained to the coach that it didn't matter if he intended to interfere or not, the fact that the first baseman was hindered in his attempt to field the ball because the coach didn't move out of his way.

I'm looking at 5.08, where if a coach interferes with a thrown ball, the runner is out. Interference in the definitions section doesn't require intent--simply hindering will suffice. That's what happened here. The first baseman had the right to make the play on the ball, and because the coach hindered his ability to do so, the runner is out.


Am I reading that right? Or did I screw this up?
Thanks!
shimes