Dropped bat interferes with a play at the plate...
 

R1 on 3B. 2-1 count on the batter. Batter swings at a pitch in the dirt. Pitch gets away from F2. R1 is coming home. Batter, apparently thinking this was strike 3, drops her bat and runs to 1B. Bat lands in front of the plate. F1, coming in to take the throw from F2 to attempt to put out R1 has to avoid the bat. Throw from F2 would have been close, but F1 is late getting in position, possibly due in part to the bat. R1 slides in safe.

Anything here?

why would BR drop their bat, and be running to first on strike 3 in the first place? unless your playing with the "dropped" third strike here. :confused:

Yes, D3K (or U3K) rule.

Speaking ASA

I believe you have absolutely nothing here.

POE#33B

Rule8 Batter Runner is out:
F5:"When the BR discards their bat which prevents the defense from making a play on the ball."

Go back a few paragraphs and read when a batter becomes a batter-runner.

Hint: This batter has not yet become one.

Really doesn't make any difference. The POE provides the interpretation that the bat must be discarded in a manner which interferes with the play. Other than that, discarded equipment is just part of the field.

If it weren't, the catcher and pitcher would be looking for a discarded bat on every possible play in the vicinity of the plate. And why would they do that, you ask? Because it freezes the runners and doesn't require the fielder to catch/field/throw the ball.

The way I read this post and please correct me if I'm wrong, there was no throw from F2. If thats the case you have a safe call. It would definately be a HTBT type play but I'm leaning towards a nothing call. No throw, no call.
" F1 is late getting into position, POSSIBLY DUE IN PART TO THE BAT"
Unless you are 150% sure it was because of the bat, you got no call.

There was a throw, but F1 was not in position to make a play.