Obstrcution at the plate?

[Dakota]

Originally posted by mach3
Coach than comes out and wants obstruction against the catcher called since she was not in possession of the ball and the runner had to hesitate,

Speaking ASA...

If the umpire judgment agrees with this (i.e. runner slowed down becuase of a defender without the ball in her basepath), that is obstruction. The runner is not obligated to use the part of the plate the defender "gives" them. The runner is allowed to chose their own base path.