Batter Interference - LL Rules

[J.D. Long]

Sorry - This series of plays during a little league game was relayed to me as Umpire in Chief. I did not actually witness the event.

Runner on third, no outs, first pitch is wild and goes to the screen on the left side of the field. Runner breaks for home, batter moves up the third base line. Catcher retrieves the ball and runs over the batter.

On review of the play between the umpires, the catcher ran out of his way to run into the batter. If he would have moved either toward home or the runner, he would not have come in contact with the batter. There was also discussion on if the catcher did this on purpose to cause interference.

The initial call was a "no call", run scored. But it was overturned when the manager of the defensive team used rule 6.06(c): A batter is out .... making any movement that hinders the catcher's play at home base".

My initial thought process would be:
1. Was there a legit play to be made at home if not it is not intereference and the run scores.
2. If the batter was in the way of the play and actually hindered the play, intereference.
3. If the catcher actually went out of his way to collide with the batter to get interference, then the call would be no interference, warning to the catcher, and possibly a warning to the manager if determined to be directed by the coaching staff.


Sorry for the length of the question.