Batter Interference or "Thats Nothin"

[oneonone]

Hello to all,

I'm hoping for some clarity on a call I saw today at a LL Majors tourney. Right handed standing square with plate. She swings and hits the ball straight down about 5 inches in front of the plate and the ball bounces straight up about seven feet high. It would have most likely returned to fair terr. again about 6" to 7" in front of the plate. The way the play unfolded was the catcher quickly jumps on the plate to wait for the attempt to catch on the balls descent. The batter has one foot out of the batter box to step around the catcher . At one step the ball comes down and hits the batter on top of the helmet. Defense Coach is screaming batter interference--batter out! Offense Coach has no idea what is even going on. The Plate Ump is a Dad helping out behind the dish, but in every way seems very knowledgeable about the game. PU calls her out because she had one foot out of the box and the ball was in fair play. I have it as "Thats Nothin" because the batter had no idea where the ball was, and did not intentionally try to influence the direction of the ball or impede the catchers ability to glove the ball. The ball ended up rolling foul over right side batter box. It all unfolded in a few seconds. Also there were no base umps.

What does the Blu Brain Trust have on this play? Thank you all in advance for your replies to this and the so many other murky waters you bring clarity too.

[JEL]

Originally Posted by oneonone

The batter has one foot out of the batter box ...... At one step the ball comes down and hits the batter on top of the helmet. .

Batter out.

[Ed Maeder]

Interference on the batter and ball is dead , batter is out, and all runners return to base at time of interference. Intent has no bearing on the play. This all applies if the ball was ruled fair. If it were ruled to be foul when this occured, nothing but a foul ball.

[SC Ump]

If a ball hits the batter-runner, it cannot be an ignored play. In all cases it is a dead ball and then basically one of three things:
1. If the batter is still in the batter's box, it is a foul ball
else
2. if the ball is in foul territory, it is a foul ball
3. if the ball is in fair territory, it is an out

As you described the play, I believe I would have ruled an out. The ball was fair and the defense has to be given the chance to make a play.

[oneonone]

Thanks...I new I could count on the "Collective Wisdom" of this forum.

[U of M Sam]

Agree with SC Ump, Ed and Jel
Sounds like "Dad" made the correct call.
Sam