Catchers Interference
 

FED Rules. Game is in the Top 7 with Away team winning 5-3 and working on about 2 and half hours. The home team has literally attempted around 100 pickoffs (0 successful) that has slowed the game drastically down. The batter with two outs and nobody on swings and hits a pop fly to the left fielder. He makes obvious contact with the catcher's mitt so I do the mechanic for catcher's interference and wait for the play to finish. Upon the catch by the left fielder I call time and signal catcher's interference. The Away team has begun to jog out onto the field and the coach walks down from the third base box and informs me that he elects to take the out as they have been there forever and just want to get the game over so they can go home. 8, 9, 1 was coming up for the home team and I guess the coach was comfortable with his 2 run lead. So the question here is can the coach elect to take the out legally or does the batter runner have to advance in order for the coach to take the outcome of the play? The coach caught me off guard and I figured if he wanted an out I was surely going to allow him to have it.

Certainly you have a rulebook, right? 8-1-1e has your answer.

I like that coach.

+1

My thought was: how sensible.

That and he knows the rule.

Did the visitors end up winning?

Yes they won the game. 8 hitter grounded out to 2nd, 9 hitter struck out, 1 hitter doubled but was stranded at second after the 2 hitter grounded out. This was one of the slowest games I have officiated with all the darn pick off attempts. Unsure what the pitcher was thinking. He attempted 3 pick off attempts in a row to second base that were all unsuccessful.

Maybe he was thinking that he needs practise? ;)

You couldn't find a balk in there somewhere? :D