Umpire Interference - Dropped 3rd strike

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Linknblue

Taken from Facebook group…..Situation: USA Fast Pitch Softball, 2 outs, runner on first. Catcher short hops a swinging strike 3 call. Batter becomes batter/runner and is heading for first. Catcher attempts throw to 2nd base to retire what she thought was a runner stealing. Umpire interferes with her throw and ball sails into left field. Both runners are now at 1st and 2nd. What’s the mechanic and correct call?

My call would have been: Call umpire interference, dead ball and runner returns to 1st base. Batter is out. My logic: Because catcher was trying to put out a runner advancing the interference stands even though the runner was forced to the next base. The batter cannot run on dropped 3rd strike because I called interference and immediate dead ball. I put the runner back just as if it was a called 3rd strike w/out the dropped issue. Correct logic or would I have screwed this call up?

Researching book, nothing I’ve found “directly” addresses this issue. Examples given are runner attempting to steal and she intended to steal but wasn’t because she was forced as soon as dropped 3rd strike situation occurred.

My RULING is Mark, Jr., approved. We do not have access to his USA Softball Rules Book at the moment, so this my comment is per NFHS and NCAA Rules and I will use NFHS Rule reference for my comments.

This is Umpire Interference (R5-S1-A2c) and is a Delayed Dead Ball (DDB). The Ball becomes Dead as soon as F2's attempt to throw out R3 at 2B (NOTE: Since there were two outs, F4/F6 only has to tag 2B for the third out because this is by Rule a Force Out.) is unsuccessful.

The Awards or Penalties for Activity 6 in the Delayed Dead Ball Table 5-1 in Rule 5 for R5-S1-A2c is: If runner is not put out, runners return. See R8-S5-A6 PENALTY.

BUT!! B6's Strike Three was an Uncaught Third Strike. B6's At-Bat ended with the Uncaught Third Strike and B6, because there were two Outs, is, by Rule, not Out! It does not matter whether or not B6 had acquired 1B before the Ball became Dead, B6 cannot be declared Out. Therefore, R3 is returned to 1B but is then forced to advance to 2B because B6, by Rule, has to be placed on 1B.

Yes, this may seem unfair to the Defense but it was the PU's Interference with F2 that caused this situation, but remember, F2 is also partially to blame for not knowing the situation: Two outs and that B6 is not out on an Uncaught Third Strike. This is one of those situations where the PU is going to have to do a lot of apologizing to the Defensive HC.

We believe that the Ruling would be the same for both USA Softball and USSSA.

MTD, Sr.