Is it fan interference?

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Of course one would have to be there to really make a definitive decision on this play but let me make an educated guess here, that the fan tossed the ball over the fence in an effort to return the ball, and nothing more (I am willing to bet dollars to donuts that this was the case and that the fan did not check to see if play had resumed before tossing the ball over the fence); it is not fan interference. That being said and the fan was merely returning the ball as I have assumed, then I am going to utter a word that has not been uttered yet in this thread: SAFETY!!

The returning ball caused F5 to turn his head and created an unsafe situation on the field. Stop play immediately. 1) Award bases accordingly; or 2) Have a do over. Safety should trump all else in this play.

MTD, Sr.

Mark,
While that is a kind & caring ruling, would you cite the rule which allows for this ruling? Certainly, kill the play if the ball has not been batted - but that's not the case here. F5 may or may not have had a play on the batted ball - and you may get away with something like your ruling in league play. I don't think you can justify that ruling for championship play.

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by Steve M

Mark,
While that is a kind & caring ruling, would you cite the rule which allows for this ruling? Certainly, kill the play if the ball has not been batted - but that's not the case here. F5 may or may not have had a play on the batted ball - and you may get away with something like your ruling in league play. I don't think you can justify that ruling for championship play.

Agreed

The OP defies common sense but, nevertheless, it states that the "Crack of the bat" was FOLLOWED by the fan throwing a ball onto the field. It is hard to fathom how F5 could have been distracted by the lob of a ball to his left when a "laser" was coming practically straight at him.

There is, however, no good reason, nor a provision, in the rules to stop the play after the ball was struck by the batter.