Interference?

[DG]

Colt game under NFHS, interesting, since Colt is supposed to be OBR modified.

Possibly a situation not covered, I am not aware of a case play on it. But let's look at it logically, as we would have to to rule on it. If batter can run on strike not caught then the unintentional contact is legal, live ball, defense messed up by not catching the ball. But batter can't legally run in this situation, so he has put defense at disadvantage by unintentionally making contact with the ball. If he had interfered with catcher's throw after a K, the FED umpire might legally call out the runner if he thought catcher might have a play on the runner for a strike 'em out throw 'em out situation. He might do the same in this situation, if catcher had a chance to throw the runner out before the unintential contact occured. Absent that, calling the ball dead and sending the runner back to 1B seems reasonable.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I too have never seen a Colt game with NFHS rules. How bizarre.

I have interference, as the batter was out when he made contact with the ball. I don't feel that intent has anything to do with it. Why punish the defense for doing their job properly and rewarding stupidity? Return runner to 1st.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I too have never seen a Colt game with NFHS rules. How bizarre.

I have interference, as the batter was out when he made contact with the ball. I don't feel that intent has anything to do with it. Why punish the defense for doing their job properly and rewarding stupidity? Return runner to 1st.

If you have INT, you have to get an out too, and R1 is the only one left.

[bob jenkins]

NCAA has a specific AR on this -- the batter is (still) out, the ball is dead, no runners advance. IOW, it's another example of "weak interference"

I'd like to rule that same way in FED, but since they don't really have that concept in FED, it wouldn't surprise me that the answer is "R1 is out."

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

NCAA has a specific AR on this -- the batter is (still) out, the ball is dead, no runners advance. IOW, it's another example of "weak interference"

I'd like to rule that same way in FED, but since they don't really have that concept in FED, it wouldn't surprise me that the answer is "R1 is out."

I agree, though I'd lean toward a stiffer penalty for the (stupid) play where the batter takes off to 1B, as opposed to the play where he is moving toward the dugout and inadvertently contacts the ball.

It makes a difference when players are doing what they're supposed to do.

[sodo]

I guess I should clarify. Even though we call it a Colt league here, it is more of a league to get players time that did not get it during the HS season, thus they operate it by using NFHS rules.

I scanned the NFHS rules and situation books from this year and I cannot really find any defining rulling for this. I could go with no call based on player intent and defense put the ball in play, dead ball based on non-runner contact (batter did strike out so he is not a base runner), and even calling base runner out if I thought catcher would have have a legitamate chance of geting him.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by sodo

I guess I should clarify. Even though we call it a Colt league here, it is more of a league to get players time that did not get it during the HS season, thus they operate it by using NFHS rules.

Colt League® is the property of PONY® Baseball. Here, we call this kind of league "Coaches League," and it is used during the summer and fall to evaluate the talent of the returning varsity, JV and Frosh talent, and it uses NFHS rules.