Interference

[Tru_in_Blu]

I came across this passage in another string and wanted to get some more information on it:

Had a partner early this season.. had a few year experience elsewhere but been out of the game for a couple of years. His mechanics and game management were pretty good but he had to come to me after calling and INT on runner from 3B who bumped F5 going for a foul fly ball coming down by the 3B coaches box. He was correct in calling it INT but could not remember what we did with the batter in that instance.

It was a HS game so the batter gets a foul ball and remains at bat, R on 3B is out.

Heard of a similar situation at an ASA tournament last year which generated a lot of discussion among umpires. In the ASA game, we actually get 2 outs on this play, the runner who interfered and the batter.

My question is about the timing of the interference. Typically, it's called at the point it occurs. With a runner on 3rd who releases on the pitch and comes down the line, F5 is playing in. The batter hits a foul ball near the 3rd base fence. As the runner is coming down the line and F5 turns to make a play on the ball, both players collide. So usually, we have the INT call.

If the ball falls in an area where F5 could have caught it without the interference, it looks justified. What if the ball hits on top of the fence. This would require an exceptional play on F5's part. What if the ball lands 20 feet outside the fence and no way could F5 have made a play on it.

When do you make the INT call? Do you delay a bit to see where the ball might end up?

Thanx.