Umpire interference or nothing
 

High school (NFHS) 3 person. No one on, 1 out. Ground ball behind second. Short stop fields and throw to 1st a litlle wide, but 1st baseman is able to get a glove on it somewhat and ball gets away. BR makes turn toward 2nd and goes 3 or 4 steps, then changes his mind and tries to head back to 1st. In turning to go back to 1st, he makes contact with 1st base umpire which stops his momentum just a bit. BR decides that he should best go to 2nd since he wouldn't make it back safely to 1st. Gets in a rundown and eventually gets put out at 2nd. Coach comes out to talk to 1st base umpire wanting umpire interference and play stands, BR out.

I've looked in case book for situation like this and couldn't find one. Was this the right call by being a no call?

Thanks

It's bad luck on the part of the BR for running into the umpire. Play on (aka no interference on the umpire). The BR is out on the subsequent play

-Josh

Umpire interference comes into play in one, and only one, situation --- this is not it.

2-21-2 says, "It is umpire interference when he inadvertently moves so as to hinder a catcher's attempt to throw, or when a fair ball touches an umpire as in 5-1-1-f, or thrown ball as in 5-1-1g."

It is impossible for an umpire to interfere with a runner and a good no-call. However, it's an unfortunate situation and you'll get a chewin' and probably give a coach a bit of a longer leash on this.

Appreciate the responses. Head coach seemed to have handled it ok somewhat. 1st base coach didn't though. He whined going back to the duguout to the plate umpire at the end of the half inning and plate ump proceded to restricted him to the dugout for the rest of game. He did have a good front row seat for the rest of the game though.

Just trying to picture how U1 put his-self in that position. I agree with the result though.

Too close to the play? Runner initiated contact? Just trying to picture this

Since I was the U3 and in the 'D' position, coming onto the field after the hit and seeing the contact somewhat, I would have to guess that U2 was in the position he should have been for making the call at 1st, but when the BR saw the ball get away from the 1st baseman and making the quick judgement to try for 2nd and then deciding not to, he just couldn't get out of the way of the contact.

Or, if you can be talked into it, such as what happenend at TAMU game this year. Very similar sit and out at 2B was changed to no out and return runner to 1B.

Try that again, please.

There are only 2 (two) situations where umpire interference can occur:

• The Plate Umpire interferes with F2's throw to retire a runner.
• The Base Umpire is hit by a batted ball.

All other contact either by the offense, defense or the ball is not umpire interference.

Yeah, I probably should have said 2 situations. Or that it only appears in ONE rule in the rulebook. My bad.