Verifying - NFHS / ASA

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by DaveASA/FED

So as 8-8-6 says your not out for just being hit by the ball, but you could be out if that causes interference with a fielder making an initial play on the ball.

Dave, I believe when it comes to interfering with a fielder making an initial play on a ball deflected by F1, the intent is to penalize a runner when she does something like bumps into that fielder.

Suppose with a runner at first, the batter hits a sharp ground ball up the middle, causing F4 to initially move to her right to field it. F1 deflects the ball and it heads back towards where F4 was originally positioned, so F4 stops on her tracks and starts moving back to field the ball. F4 is about ten feet behind the baseline from first to second as she moves parallel to that line. The runner gets hit by that deflected ball, and F4 is nowhere near that runner when it happens.

No way is that going to be considered hindering F4 while making an initial play. The onus is on the runner to avoid F4, not to avoid the deflected ball, and she shouldn't be penalized if she does just that.

I think you're stretching the definition of initial play to the point that it directly conflicts with the deflected ball rule.