Pop Foul Ball, a runner at 3rd, and an Obsrtuction call.

[stephanie]

What should be the right call on the following:
1 out, runner on 3rd.
Batter hits a pop fly foul down third base line. Runner at 3rd had already taken her leadoff, and was returning to her base when she and the 3rd baseman collided. The 3rd baseman was attempting to catch the foul. The runner stayed within the baseline, and there was no attempt to impede the play.

It did not appear to be a pop fly foul that the 3rd baseman would've caught without any interference/obstruction, although I know this is a judgement call on my part.

What should the call have been?

This is what was called:
runner on 3rd was called out, and the batter finished her at bat.

 

[Comp]

Under ASA rules, 8-7-L, if the umpire felt the 3rd basemen could have easily fielded the foul fly ball if not for the interference, both the runner and the batter would be called out.

Intent is not necessary to be interference and being in the baseline is no protection. Defense always has the right of way in fielding a batted ball.

 

[nfhs ump]

Here is the NFHS rule...if interference is the call.

8.6 ART. 10 . . . The runner interferes:

b. with a fielder attempting to field a fly ball over foul territory.

PENALTY: The ball is dead and the runner is out. Each other runner must return to the last base touched at the time of the interference. If interference occurs by the runner on a foul fly ball, the runner is out and the ball is dead. A foul ball is called in this situation and the batter remains at bat unless it was a bunt attempt with two strikes on the batter then batter is also out.

Hard to call obstruction on an uncaught foul ball.

 

[rowdy]

The runner will always be out in this scenario. Different sanctions treat the batter in this example differently though.