First Base Interference Intent?

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Jul 3, 2012
14
1
Iowa
Okay, so last night at my daughters HS Varsity game, we were playing the 1st place team currently in conference (we are currently two games back in 2nd), game was at home, so big game and big crowd. Daughter starts at 2nd base. Here is the situation:

Runner on 2nd, one out. Batter shows bunt, and lays down a good one. Daughter heads over to cover first, pitcher picks ball up throws towards first, throw was low but catchable. Daughter crouches down, to make sure if ball is not caught, she can block. Maintains her side of the bag and doesn't cross base path per daughter(same story by other witnesses that had a view of the basepath, we sit in the outfield so I can't verify myself). As the ball comes in on the throw, the girl running drops her head, shoulder, and TACKLES my daughter. Not runs into her, but TACKLES her. Two hand wrap up under the armpits and everything, as they lay on the ground, the girl had to actually pull her hands out from underneith my daughter to get back up. Ball didn't pass them, but was enough to allow girls on 2nd to get home.

So, no calls were made, girl safe at home and on first. There could have been two possible calls here, which is my question. One being some sort of interference or intent call at first, should have been an automatic out and maybe me being somewhat biased, other girl should have been thrown out of game. Two being even if that call was not made, should the runner on 2nd be allowed to continue home after the hit and the ball lying there. I could have sworn the ump yelled time as they gathered themselves.

PS, the one good thing that is funny about this, my DD is stacked, ripped. She brushed herself off and got up like nothing happened (which is great especially since the other girl had a helmet on). So we are glad she wasn't hurt, but proud also on how she carried herself after the game. One thing that does irritate me, is our FA catcher (FA being two words that rhyme with Bat Class) was too lazy to get all of the bunts for the evening, blamed my daughter for the loss after the game (she usually blames the dugout for losses), and said once she got hit thats when the girls started to loose the game. Actually, I thought it pumped several of the girls up, on how DD reacted. Anyway, sorry for the long read.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
If it happened exactly as you described, batter runner should have been called for interference, dead ball, runner on 2nd returned to 2nd and then malicious contact by the batter runner and ejected from game.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
I'm not a rules expert, but it seems to me (based on this description) that at a MINIMUM it should be interference at first, and batter-runner is out. Runner at second is allowed third, but not home, unless the runner was already past third when the play at first happened.
 
Last edited:
The only time contact like you described should ever happen might be on a play where there is no play at first and runner is attempting round the bag but the defensive player is on the bag or if the throw is down the home plate side of first and girls run into each other .

As you described Comps assessment makes the most sense but as always the these cases YHTBT.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
Assuming single base.

I'm trying to imagine how someone can "crouch" down to block a ball without going to a knee with her arms away from her body at an angle the BR could get low enough and get her arms inside the fielders.

I'm not offering a comment on the ruling one way or the other, just trying to visualize.
 
Jul 3, 2012
14
1
Iowa
Fair question, good one too by the way.

She got low enough as the ball was coming in, that it looked as if she were playing catcher, if that helps you visualize. Obviously, she would not normally catch or stop the ball that way, but play developed quickly and did what she could to stop the ball. Also, the pitcher picked up the ball where the catcher should have (near the plate but I already commented on our catcher), so the BR and ball angle were near parallel.

Assuming single base.

I'm trying to imagine how someone can "crouch" down to block a ball without going to a knee with her arms away from her body at an angle the BR could get low enough and get her arms inside the fielders.

I'm not offering a comment on the ruling one way or the other, just trying to visualize.
 
Mar 28, 2011
37
6
SW Ohio
I'm not a rules expert, but it seems to me (based on this description) that at a MINIMUM it should be interference at first, and batter-runner is out. Runner at second is allowed third, but not home, unless the runner was already past third when the play at first happened.

The runner at second is only entitled to the last base touched at the time of the interference.
 

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