INTERFERENCE
QUESTION: In high school, baseball and softball, runners on third and first; one out; batter-runner grounds to second base person who is interfered with by runner from first base. Base umpire calls, “ Interference”; runner is called out, runner from third is allowed to score because he / she was close to plate at time of infraction and batter-runner is awarded first base. Is this correct rule application?
ANSWER: The interference call is correct; dead ball, runner is declared out and batter-runner awarded first base is proper. However, the run should not have scored due to immediate dead ball call; despite advancing close to home plate, all runners return to bases occupied at time of violation. Runner should have been returned to third as the offense cannot have scoring advantage due to violation. Run would have been allowed if interference occurred after run scored (BB- Rule 5, Sec. 1, Art. 1, e; Rule 8, Sec. 4, Art. 2, g; SB- Rule 5-1-1, e; Rule 8-6-10).
QUESTION: Runner on third base; two outs; batter-runner hits a slow roller toward first base. He/she interferes with the first base person trying to field fair batted ball. Ump calls, “Interference, batter-runner out.” Prior to infraction, runner from third touched home plate. Does run score?
ANSWER: Dead ball; run does not score when the third out is result of batter-runner being put out at first base (BB and SB- Rule 9, Sec. 1, Art. 1, a).
