Interference Question
 

High School baseball. One out. R1 is on third base. B2 hits a foul pop up between home and 3rd (About 60 feet down the line, 10-15 feet foul). F5 breaks for the ball as R1 turns around to return to the bag. They collide in foul territory. I believe the ball was catchable with a strong effort by F5.
Please make your ruling. The reason for posting this question is that the Dead Ball table in the NFHS Rulebook (5-1-1) #8 states that interference on a foul fly ball results in the batter being called out with no mention of the runner. Interference by a runner, of course, results in the runner being called out. Please clarify this rule as it regards a foul ball and a collission in foul territory. Thanks.

Matt

travlinmatt,

As described, under Fed (i.e. HS) rules in this sitch the Batter is declared out on his teammate's interference and the runner returns to 3B.

Under OBR rules, the runner who interfered would be out and the batter would remain at bat with a foul ball added to his count (i.e. a strike if he had less than two strikes).

JM

I knew this one because I screwed it up once. (The sure-fire way to remember a rule.) :)

That's an interesting difference in the rule...a huge difference in my opinion. Wouldn't it be nice if these types of situations were consistent along the rule sets? I did not know this difference. Now I do. Great post.

Yes, this is one of those that I always remind myself of because it is different in FED and OBR.

The dead ball table does need to say other runners return - it does say another runner could be called out if the int. prevented a DP, but does not say what to do with the runners.

You have to be careful with FED rule #'s also, they list as 7-4-1g but it's 7-4-1f in my 2008 book. The penalty is referenced above that in 7-3-6.

I too have seen this messed up several times by umpires who didn't know the difference. One of those you have to remember.

thanks
David

I missed the part in OBR where the ball is foul and the batter comes back.

I just want to know where to find this ruling even if it is for me to look in PBUC or MLBUM manuals.

David, thank you for mentioning rule 7-4-1f. This clarifies the high school rule in regard to the batter. However, I would like to see a better reference to what to do with the offending runner. But now in response to the difference with OBR. I think the difference is rather significant and seems strange for one governing body to differentiate this circumstance. Thanks.

Matt

General rule for all interference by the offense: runners return to the base occupied at the time of interference (TOI).

This is only true if there is an intervening play(at least for OBR). If INT occurs on the initial throw or while a batted ball is being fielded, then runners return to TOP base unless forced by BR. If there is an intervening play such as a play at HP and then F2's throw hits BR while out of the lane, then all runners go to base last legally occupied before TOI and any runs already scored remain scored.

This is for OBR. FED may be different.

*sigh*

I said "as a general rule." And I was right: just look at OBR 2.00 Interference:

FED is ALWAYS TOI, except for FPSR.

8-2-9 (third sentence)

And, if it is done as a "general rule", it will get misapplied. There are specific rules provided to cover it. Going by "general rule" is not a good idea. Just look at how the "general rule" doesn't cover all and someone will misapply if just given the "general rule". Even the "general rule" is a specific rule if you think about it.