Strange play in small ball

[David B]

Had a strange play in the league my son is playing. R2 and BR walks. As he starts for first he tosses the bat toward the dugout and F2 throws the ball to F5 as R2 is stealing and the bat hits the ball.

Wierd things happen in 10yr old baseball.

I believe the umpires finally called BR out for interference, but was looking for a reference. They called me today and several of the officials seemed to think there had to be intent etc.,

I think its basic, BR interfering with a play by F2, but was looking for a case play etc., to print and give to the umpires/coaches.

Thanks
David

[Dave Reed]

Once the batter walks, he is no longer a batter, and there needs to be intent in order for interference to be properly called. A 10 year old who can deliberately throw the bat in a way to be hit by the catcher's throw would be pretty good! Hard for me to justify an interference call here.

OBR 7.08 Any runner is out when--
(b) He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball;

[David B]

Originally Posted by Dave Reed

Once the batter walks, he is no longer a batter, and there needs to be intent in order for interference to be properly called. A 10 year old who can deliberately throw the bat in a way to be hit by the catcher's throw would be pretty good! Hard for me to justify an interference call here.

OBR 7.08 Any runner is out when--
(b) He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball;

I know I was reading that this morning, just looking for a case play, I"ll check by BRD.

Same situation, BR walks but on way to first interferes with F2 throwing to a base we would have interference. Some would say he's just doing what he's supposed to, going to first. There was no intent etc.,

Just trying to clarify,

Thansk
david

[LittleLeagueBob]

Dave -

The following is a NFHS case play - so may or may not apply, depending on the rules set your son is playing under...at the very least, can give you something to ponder.

7.3.5 SITUATION I: With a runner on third base and one out, B3 receives ball
four for a base on balls. B3 takes several steps toward first base and then realizes he is still holding onto the bat. With his dugout on the third base side, he stops and tosses the bat in front of home plate towards his bench. As he tosses the bat, F2 throws the ball to third in an attempt to put out R1. The ball contacts the bat in mid-air and is deflected into dead-ball territory. RULING: The ball is dead. Interference is declared on the batter. If R1 had been attempting to steal home, R1 would be declared out and B3 awarded first base on the base on balls. If R1 was attempting to return to third base on the play, B3 is declared out for the interference. (7-3-5)

[David B]

Originally Posted by LittleLeagueBob

Dave -

The following is a NFHS case play - so may or may not apply, depending on the rules set your son is playing under...at the very least, can give you something to ponder.

7.3.5 SITUATION I: With a runner on third base and one out, B3 receives ball
four for a base on balls. B3 takes several steps toward first base and then realizes he is still holding onto the bat. With his dugout on the third base side, he stops and tosses the bat in front of home plate towards his bench. As he tosses the bat, F2 throws the ball to third in an attempt to put out R1. The ball contacts the bat in mid-air and is deflected into dead-ball territory. RULING: The ball is dead. Interference is declared on the batter. If R1 had been attempting to steal home, R1 would be declared out and B3 awarded first base on the base on balls. If R1 was attempting to return to third base on the play, B3 is declared out for the interference. (7-3-5)

Thanks Bob that's what I wanted and just didn't have time to look for. That's what I had interpreted the play as but needed some justification before presenting it to the umpires who actually called the games etc.,

Thanks
David

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by David B

Thanks Bob that's what I wanted and just didn't have time to look for. That's what I had interpreted the play as but needed some justification before presenting it to the umpires who actually called the games etc.,

Thanks
David

Don't bet that it applies to an OBR/LL game without further research.