Baseball Instruction/Batter Interference

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Expert: - 5/23/2008


Question
Last night in my son's little league game there was a runner on third base and ball 4 was thrown to the batter.  The catcher muffed the ball and it rolled away from the plate, prompting the runner at third to break home.  The batter, having walked backed out of the box toward the screen, did not proceed directly to first base.  When the batter finally started to first, he crossed in front of the catcher trying to make a play on the runner from third.  The umpire called interference on the batter and an out.  Agree?  Disagree?

Answer
Kevin,

I agree with the umpires call if there were two outs.

7.08 (g)- attempting to score on a play in which the batter interferes with the play at home base before two are out. With two out, the interference puts the batter out and no score counts.

If it were less then two outs, the runner would be ruled out, and no run would score.

I hope this has answered your question.  Should you have anymore, please don't hesitate to ask.

-Martin Hoover

Baseball Instruction

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Martin Hoover

Expertise

Questions regarding the Rules and Regulations of Little League Baseball and Softball. Questions regarding the history and organization of Little League Baseball at local, state, regional, and international levels. Advise regarding certain operational procedures and recommendations to Local League representatives.

Experience

Volunteer Little League Umpire since 2000; 2003 Little League, Junior League, Senior League and Big League Softball European Regional Umpire; 2005 Little League Softball Western Regional Umpire; Member- Hesperia National(Hesperia, CA) Little League Board of Directors(2003-2004); President- Hesperia National Little League Board of Directors(2005-Present); 2007 Junior Softball Western Regional Umpire

Organizations
Little League Baseball, Inc is the main operational center. I fall under Little League Western Region, and California District 49. I currently serve as President of the Hesperia National Little League Board of Directors.

Education/Credentials
Western Regional Junior Umpire School(2000)(Named Outstanding Junior Umpire of the Western Region Area); Instructor - Little League Baseball Western Regional Outreach Clinics

Awards and Honors
Outstanding Junior Umpire of the Western Regional Area(2000)

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