Expert: Tom Mielke - 11/1/2009

Question
Age: 12U; Situation: R1 on 3rd base, pitch to B1 is made. B1 turns to look at 3rd base coach, catcher runs 2-3 steps toward 3rd, directly at the batter's back, running into the batter as she throws to third. Defensive coach, as well as "all-knowing" parents, go ballistic, claiming ump (me) should have called batter interference. This happened several times throughout the game. Please give correct ruling and exceptions. Thank you.

Answer
I've got nothing on this as well.  The batter did what they would normally do.  The batter didn't reposition themselves in the box causing the interference.  The only time I would call interference on the batter that didn't move in the box would be on a play at home where they need to get out of the way.

The DC should have taught their catcher that they shouldn't run into a batter.  If the catcher chose a path that would have easily avoided the batter and the batter stepped into the catchers's path, I would have killed the play and called interference.  

I think that even 16u parents might miss this!