Hello,

I hope I dont bother you too much with questions - Last night in our scrimmage ( not game )16U ASA Fastpitch, I counted three times that the catcher received the pitch and threw to 3rd base. Each time while the batter was trying to back out of the box the catcher was brushing against them, not running into the per se, just brushing against. I wasn't sure if the batter wasn't getting out of the box quickly enough or what she could have done to not interfere in this situation. If a game were being played what would the call or what is the batters obligation in this situation ?


Thank you

In most cases I am thinking a batter "backing" up is getting out of the way, and the brushing is Okay

Best thing for the batter to do is to stay put in the batters box, unless there is a play at home...

I'd have to see the play, but in your case, I may have batter interference...depends on what it looked like to me...and was the batter out of the box when the "brushing" happened...or did I feel there was any intention by the batter to get in the catchers way...like the old swing through the pitch and step across the plate with a runner from first base stealing second...that's not intentional is it? ;)

Catcher needs to be taught to work around the batter. In turn, batters need to be taught to NOT move and stay within the box.

Thank you for your replies. :)

orange-

That's correct. But If the batter just stands there, it's then the catcher's responsibility to avoid the batter. As long as she has remained in the box, I'm going to need intent to rule interference on her. The way I normally call these:

In the box: Intent needed
Backing out: No intent needed

Play at the plate completely different story, batter must vacate plate area and not interfere witht the play.

-Josh

Re: RE: this question
 

No. Even if the batter stays in the box, any movement while the catcher is making a throw that may interfere with that throw may be construed as intentional.

Re: Re: RE: this question
 

One of the rulebooks (ASA/FED/NCAA) says repositioning in the batters box may be construed as interference/intential. Don't have them in front of me now so I can't remember which one.