1) re: 8-8-6 as you quoted, the OP is not about a runner being hit by a batted/deflected ball.
It is about a runner interferreing (or not) with a fielder fielding a deflected ball.

2) Step and reach does not apply here since we are talking ball. But if it helps, the ball was deflected well away from the pitcher. It was not a "muff" nor an "error".
F6 was trying to gain control of a ball that had been deflected by the pitcher.

Thanks for the additional information that was missing. "F6 was trying to gain control of a ball that had been deflected by the pitcher". What you have now describes the definition of "Initial Play 2-47-3-A"

2-47-3 INITIAL PLAY ... A fielder is considered to be making an initial play on a fair batted ball when she:
a. Has a reasonable chance to gain control of a ground ball that no other fielder (except the pitcher) has touched.

Call is interference per rule book in NFHS.

Only because it is the slow season.........

Don't you think
describes
"F6 trying to gain control of a ball that had been deflected by the pitcher".

:rolleyes:

My mistake. You wrote F1 to F6. My brain said F4 to F6. Either way, this is interference for NFHS. Again, sorry.

:)