Interference? Or, no call?

[WestMichBlue]

USSSA qualifier tournament, 16U Championship game . Visiting team is ahead by one or two runs, bottom of the 5th with bases loaded. I am in "C."

Hard shot to short, F6 comes in a step or two, is on or slightly in front of the baseline. Ball takes a nasty turn and skids 3' - 5' to the left of F6. R2 is only a step or so away, having put on the brakes to avoid F6; then goes behind F6 on to 3B. I have no call; D Coach wants interference; claiming F6 could not get to the ball because R2 was in her way.

Incredible as this may seem; the identical play occured three times in a row! (3 consecutive batters!) Each time I had no call; several runs scored and visitors have lost their lead and eventually lost the game. I suppose you know that I was not the most popular person around there the last couple innings.

OK - let's analyze this. Could F6 have gone to her left to field the ball? No, because R2 was immediately to her left. Did R2 impede F6? Maybe. Is that interference? You tell me.

My thought process was that I did not know IF F6 would go to her left. I didn't know if her brain said "stop, there is someone there." If she had at least taken a step and put R2 between her and the ball, I would have called interference. Obviously, if there had been any contact it would have been an almost automatic call. The most action I saw was that she turned left, but never took a step.

Did she not go left because of R2? Or did she not even have a chance at the ball, which skidded away from her like a rocket?


WMB