14U ASA - Catcher interference on the 3rd baseline?

[WestMichBlue]

"Ok, here's the question -- is the catcher committing interference by being on the baseline? What would / would not constitute interference?"

Yes - and no! Yes, the catcher has committed a crime; no, it is not interference. It is called obstruction. Interference is an illegal act by offensive players; obstruction an illegal act by defensive players.

If the catcher has the ball then she can legally block the basepath to make a play on the runner. The runner is obligated to avoid contact, other than by a legal slide. If she runs 3' outside her basepath to avoid contact she will be called out. (Note: basepath is direct line between runner and home plate - has nothing to do with the chalked foul line.)

In your case the catcher did not have the ball and forced to runner to alter her path. Without the ball the catcher is obligated to step aside and allow the runner a clear path to the base. The catcher should have been charged with obstruction; the umpire would have "protected" the runner to the base she should have obtained had the obstruction not occured. Thus the runner would score. Even if the runner had been called out on the tag at home plate. The obstruction call would supercede the out call and the runner would score.