Interference/Deflected off the pitcher

[jwwashburn]

Sorry for the delay. For some reason, I was not getting the responses in my email. Your response confuses it further, I think. Does the runner have to get out of the way of the deflected ball or just not get hit on purpose? i agree with what was posted above, the ASA rule makes more sense.

It seems like NFHS is saying that you cannot possibly be guilty of interference if you are hit by a ground ball off the pitcher unless you get hit on purpose.

Joe In Texas

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by jwwashburn

It seems like NFHS is saying that you cannot possibly be guilty of interference if you are hit by a ground ball off the pitcher unless you get hit on purpose.

That is exactly what the rule says.

See rule 8-8-6:

The runner is not out (when)... A runner is hit with a fair batted ball after it touches, or is touched by, any fielder, including the pitcher, and the runner could not avoid contact with the ball.

Could the runner avoid the deflected ball? That is decided by umpire judgment.

If you judge that the ball could have been avoided, but the runner either let it hit her or intentionally touched it, you have interference.

If you judge that the contact was unavoidable, no interference.

Maybe your confusion comes from mixing together the rules for a runner hit by a non-deflected batted ball, a runner being hit by a deflected batted ball and a runner contacting a fielder on a deflected batted ball. Different plays with different rulings.

[jwwashburn]

Thanks, Bretdude.

I like the ASA rule better.

I think I am creating more confusion in my head with this one than is really there.

I'll just get the coaches together and ask them what they think the 'fair' decision would be.

Joe in Texas

[BretMan]

You say that you like the ASA rule better- but which rule are you thinking of?

Your lprevious two posts (before your this last one) ask about a ball touched by the pitcher that then contacts the runner.

On that play, the ASA and NFHS rulings are exactly the same! In fact, their respective rules read word-for-word identical in this case. See ASA rule 8-8-F and compare it to NFHS rule 8-8-6.

The other play you asked about- ball is deflected by the pitcher, then the runner contacts the fielder (not the ball) is where the two diverge on a ruling.

ASA considers the touch by the pitcher a deflected ball and the fielder cannot be guilty of interference with the fielder unless her act is intentional. So, if the fielder suddenly changes direction and cuts in front of the runner, then the runner unavoidably bumps into her, it is not interference.

The NFHS ruling is different. Consider the same batted ball. Despite being touched by the pitcher, the fielder can still be considered as making the "initial play" on the ball and the fielder still receives absolute protection against interference. In other words, the runner still must allow the fielder to make the play and any contact- intentional or not- can still be ruled as interference.

Does that make more sense?