"Crash" @1B

[Bulldog Blue]

NFHS game. 0 out, R1 on 2B. B2 hits ground ball to F4 who throws to F3 at 1B and B2 is out. B2 is still running full speed and crashes into F3, which causes both F3 and B2 to go from being upright to being completely prone on the ground past 1B, and F3 still has possession of the ball. R1 has already passed 3B and continues to HP and scores, and F3 is unable to make a play on R1 because she has been knocked to the ground.

What do you rule?

[Tru_in_Blu]

NFHS does not have a definition for "crash" (USA does have a rule supplement on this).

NFHS does have a definition for Interference and Malicious Contact.

I can't fault a BR for running hard all the way to (and through) 1B.

I think this situation needs to determine if the BR veered into F3 or did F3 move into the path of the BR.

Was there MC?

Earning the big $$$.

[ilyazhito]

Was there malicious contact, or did the batter-runner attempt (and fail) to avoid contacting the fielder? This is the big question. If it was not malicious contact, but a trainwreck, then the runner scores, and next batter comes to bat with one out. If it was, the runner is held at third (the last legally acquired base prior to the malicious contact), the batter-runner is out and ejected, and the next batter comes to bat with one out.

[SE Minnestoa Re]

It doesn't have to be malicious contact. Good old interference will cause the runner to go back to third.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

This is Interference by a Retired Runner; see 2020-21 NFHS Softball Casebook Play 8.6.16 Situation A:

"R1 is on third base. B2 hits a slow roller to the shortstop who attempts to throw R1 out at the plate. F2 receives the throw behind the plate. Realizing she cannot make a play on R1, she turns to throw B2 out who is advancing to second and (a) is run into by R1 after R1 has crossed the plate causing her to drop the ball (the contact is not malicious); (b) is maliciously run into by R1 after R1 has crossed the plate. RULING: The run would score in (a) and (b), because R1 interfered after touching the plate. If, in the umpire's judgment,
the interference prevented F2 from making a play on B2, the umpire shall call B2 out. In (b), R1 is ejected for malicious contact. (R3-S6-A18)"

Currently, there is a Play being discussed in the Facebook group Softball Umpires regarding Inteference by a Retired Runner (R1) going from 1B to 2B and Mark, Jr. and I have already taken the position though R1 did not "intentionally interfere" it is Interference by a Retired Runner using 2020-21 NFHS Softball Casebool Play 8.6.16 Situation B.

MTD, Sr.

[Skahtboi]

^ I agree with Mark ^