Deflected Ball Interference/Obstruction ? NFHS / ASA rules difference

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Tex

With an Initial play being made:

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.
.

My question would be, "why is the pitcher redirecting the batted ball excluded?"

Like I noted, we have all been raised to not watch the ball, but run to the base while watching and listening to your coach(es).

R1 leaves 1B, sees F4 head toward middle, then all of a sudden, change direction by 150 degrees and runs right at the runner. I just cannot see placing the onus on the runner to adjust to the defense because the pitcher failed to stop the ball.