Retired Runner Hit with Throw
Please answer primarily for NCAA, ASA, and NFHS.
Sitch: R1 on first, no outs. B2 hits a little looper to F6. R1 takes off for second, but then stops thinking that F6 will make the catch. The ball skips into F6's glove. F6 tosses the ball to F4 at second base to retire R1, who is now just jogging towards the bag. F4 then throws to first to make a play on B2, and the throw hits R1 in the shoulder while she's between the two bases. Is R1 guilty of interference? |
It could be...
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I agree it's an HTBT (had to be there) play but from what this play states. I have a dead ball Interference and a double play. |
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The immediately trailing runner is out when the interference is committed by a runner who has not yet been retired. But on to the play at hand... All we have to go by is the description that R1 was "just jogging toward the bag" when the throw hit her. I have a hard time visualizing that as interference. When a runner is running the bases, just exactly where would you expect her to be other than in the baseline advancing toward a base? Runners aren't expected to vanish, duck, dive, veer or peel off the instant they're retired. |
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I don't remember any violent discussions objecting to the interference call. |
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I'm a pretty hard line guy on this, and I teach the hard line stance. The key to Bret's language is "instant" -- anything longer than an instant, I've got interference. For example, in the linked video, yes, interference (that was way more than an instant). The other one was the Tennessee player (shown in the SUP online clinic). I've got interference on that one too, and that was real close to "instant." You don't have to give yourself up, but you cannot interfere. I only posted the NCAA rule, but the same in all codes. Yes, I know. Other will disagree. |
I thought that sounded incorrect.
I was using the new app on my phone for the rule book. I've found it to be quite difficult to use. But, you are correct. A runner already put out who then interferes would cause the runner closest to home to be out.
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1.72 Interference- equipment or the act of an offensive player... What "act" of interference did she commit? |
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12.9.7 Base Runner is Out...When she interferes with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball, interferes with a fielder attempting to throw the ball or intentionally interferes with a thrown ball. So, some of their rules do require intent. I suppose the caveat is that the above rule is for a not yet retired runner, and the play in question is for an already retired runner. |
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Update: as I look at the video, the ball strikes the runner after the BR arrived at first, therefore not an opportunity for an out. The latter is what we should judge the act, not that "she couldn't get out of the way." |
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Personally, I don't agree with it. But I come from a baseball umpiring background, and "over there" retired runners aren't expected to immediately disappear, as BretMan mentions. In fact, some baseball rule sets explicitly state that if a runner continues to advance after being retired, he/she shall not by that act alone be considered as interfering. I'm just trying to find out if there is something similar in softball. |
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