Running lane violation

[BretMan]

That is the interpretation as I understand it. In order for the throw to be interfered with, it must be a "quality throw". That is, one that has a reasonable chance of being fielded by the defender at first base. As far as the "reasonable-ness" of it being caught, give the benefit of the doubt to the defense.

If the throw gets airmailed over first base into right field, that's not a quality throw, thus the opportunity to make an out was not interfered with.

The only game I'm aware of that calls interference on a "non-quality" throw (a bad throw) is FED baseball. They have a ruling that if the batter-runner's presense out of the running lane causes the bad throw (really...how would the umpire know that for sure...) then it is interference. FED softball does not have this interpretation.

[AtlUmpSteve]

You didn't specify a rule set, so the wording varies, by ......

MOST rule sets declare it interference to hinder the fielder who would receive the throw, NOT to block the thrower from a direct line to throw. With that wording, it should be clear that a runner hasn't interfered if the throw is one that couldn't be caught.

[MD Longhorn]

Depends on the rule set. Bret is dead on.