Advice on the one!
 

Girls FP...runners at 2nd and 3rd...two out...1 ball 2 strike count on batter.

Pitch comes in and is swung at and missed. Ball hits in F2's glove and bounces out right in front of the plate. Batter realizes DTS and takes off. Ball comes to rest directly in front of plate and batter/runner unintentionally kicks the ball as she runs to first base.

What if anything do you call?

DEAD BALL! DEAD BALL! DEAD BALL! Batter is OUT.

No... the call is nothing.

On this, and other, boards, multiple versions of this play have inevitably led to someone opining that they refuse to reward the defense for failing to catch the ball. This opinion has no rules basis, since every version of softball has a rule that makes it an out (ASA 8.2-F(6), NFHS 8-2-6, NCAA 12-4-m). This simple rule makes it an out to interfere with a dropped third strike, without regard to intent, who erred, or any other consideration; if the batter-runner interferes, it is an out. No sane person could possibly conclude that kicking the ball didn't interfere.

What amazes me about the logic (?) used is that the batter erred first and foremost, by missing three strikes!! The same umpires would certainly and happily declare the batter-runner out if it was a bunt in fair territory and the batter-runner unitentionally kicked it, and on that play the batter-runner didn't even miss the ball first!!

Go figure; it's a fairly simple rule to me.

Absolutely, 8.2.F.6

There was an attempt a few years ago to add "intent" to this play, but it was the wrong year to bring up that type of change in the interference rules. ;)

I agree with the dead ball, batter out.

NCAA 2010

12.2.3 The batter-runner may not interfere with the catcher’s attempt to field
a third strike.
Note: If both players’ actions are appropriate to the situation and contact
could not be avoided, it is inadvertent contact and neither interference nor
obstruction.
A.R. 12.2.3: It is not interference if the batter-runner unintentionally kicks the ball that had deflected off the catcher who attempted to field a dropped third strike.

Paul

Then why isn't it...
 

interference when a runner is running the bases and goes in standing up at 3rd base and is hit with a thrown ball? I'm a bit confused here. The batter had her chance to hit the ball...but the catcher had her chance to field the ball.

Doesn't make any difference. It is an U3K and the BR kicked it. Didn't say I like it, but it is what it is.

I know they have removed...
 

the word "intentional" from the interference rule in almost all instances. But, how can you distinguish between the two plays...A runner running in to 3rd base who is hit with a thrown ball (didn't even know it was coming) and the batter/runner running to first base on a dropped 3rd strike who has no idea where the ball is laying? In both cases you have a runner who may have kept the defense from making a play. I can't see interference here.

I lied, the proposed change was for 2006.

The proposed change was to add the word "intentionally" to the rule. The cause offered for the change stated, "Don't believe the BR should be responsible for avoiding a dropped third strike that rebounded off or was inadvertently swatted by the catcher or umpire."

It was shot down in all committees.

But shoulding they have an idea where it is laying? Did they only run to first because everyone was yelling "run"?

My personal (a.k.a. meaningless to the rule) thought process on this is the same as a batted ball that is being fielded by a fielder. That ball is still within a step and a reach of the fielder so it is interference if a runner kicks it. However, I cannot always make logic out of why some rules are written as they are, so I just call them that way.

Really!
 

How can you think of this as a "batted" ball? To me it is more like a thrown ball.

The difference, in my opinion, is that the ball sitting on home plate is in front of the BR; she should be able (and therefore required) to avoid interfering with it. Any ball in front of you (well, almost any) should be avoidable.

But a thrown ball is most often from a blind side; and the onus is based on the runner doing something specific and active to interfere, as opposed to failing to take reasonable caution to not interfere.

It is a ball/event that makes the B a BR.