NFHS, HS varsity game.
Enjoy
R1 on third, 1 out, HOT SHOT one hop at F5 in front of the base, back hand attempt and ball deflects off of her glove while ball is over the base line and is a fair ball. Deflected ball zips directly toward 3rd base coach who turns and ball hits him in the middle of the back. R1 heads for home and F5 quickly gathers ball and fires home where R1 is tagged before she reaches the plate.
Now what if, and this is the actual play that happened, the fair ball deflects off F5 and is zipping directly toward coach's face, coach's instinctive reaction brings hands up and he catches the ball. He quickly tosses the ball to F5 (maybe thinking it was a foul ball) and she throws the ball to home and catcher tags R1 before she reaches home.
I went 3-5-6.
If any offensive team member, other than a runner or retired runner,
interferes with a batted fair ball or foul fly ball, the batter is declared out. If,
in the judgment of the umpire, the interference prevented a possible double play,
the batter and runner closest to home shall be declared out.
PENALTY: (Art. 6) The ball is dead immediately and the batter and runner may
be out. (8-6-16,17,19; 7-4-12)
Batter Runner is out and R1 returned to third.
My personal debate, did coach actually "interfere" with a batted fair ball? He did stop the ball from following its natural flight, which would have been towards the fence in foul territory in the outfield and R1 scores easily BR easily to second. He did not interfere with a defensive player making a play on a batted ball, but this is not about interfering with a player, this is about interfering with a ball. He in fact help the defense in both situations, which is the opposite of interfering.
Of course the Defensive Coach wants a live ball nothing, as he would now have 2 outs and a runner on first.
Are you with me?
Enjoy
R1 on third, 1 out, HOT SHOT one hop at F5 in front of the base, back hand attempt and ball deflects off of her glove while ball is over the base line and is a fair ball. Deflected ball zips directly toward 3rd base coach who turns and ball hits him in the middle of the back. R1 heads for home and F5 quickly gathers ball and fires home where R1 is tagged before she reaches the plate.
Now what if, and this is the actual play that happened, the fair ball deflects off F5 and is zipping directly toward coach's face, coach's instinctive reaction brings hands up and he catches the ball. He quickly tosses the ball to F5 (maybe thinking it was a foul ball) and she throws the ball to home and catcher tags R1 before she reaches home.
I went 3-5-6.
If any offensive team member, other than a runner or retired runner,
interferes with a batted fair ball or foul fly ball, the batter is declared out. If,
in the judgment of the umpire, the interference prevented a possible double play,
the batter and runner closest to home shall be declared out.
PENALTY: (Art. 6) The ball is dead immediately and the batter and runner may
be out. (8-6-16,17,19; 7-4-12)
Batter Runner is out and R1 returned to third.
My personal debate, did coach actually "interfere" with a batted fair ball? He did stop the ball from following its natural flight, which would have been towards the fence in foul territory in the outfield and R1 scores easily BR easily to second. He did not interfere with a defensive player making a play on a batted ball, but this is not about interfering with a player, this is about interfering with a ball. He in fact help the defense in both situations, which is the opposite of interfering.
Of course the Defensive Coach wants a live ball nothing, as he would now have 2 outs and a runner on first.
Are you with me?