Interference without contact

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by WestMichBlue
Girls FP, F6 is typically playing just off the basepath and we have a potential for conflict every time a runner is on 2B. Ground ball to F6, runner passes in front of F6, ball passes just in front of or just behind runner. Right now, do you have interference? Does it matter if the runner passes 1' or 3' or 6' in front of F6? Does it matter if F6 has to hesitate to get to fielding position, or if she is already there? Would you wait a second to see if F6 fielded the ball cleanly? Would you attempt to use your judgement as to whether or not F6 should have been able to field the ball? OR, to bring it full circle, is just passing in front of the fielder an act of interference?

Assuming the runner did nothing intentional to interfere.

That would depend on the fielder's reaction. Regardless of age or game, if, in my judgment the runner prevented the defender from moving to field the ball, I'm ruling interference. I'm not talking about a fielder who comes to a set position to field the ball, then kicks it because the runner passed in front of her. I'm talking about F6 moving toward the ball and, in my judgment, pulls up short to avoid contact with the runner and missing the ball. I also know that fielding or not fielding the ball is irrelevant to an interference call, but if the fielder gets the ball cleanly, obviously the runner did not cause any interference.

JMHO,