Expert: Dr. Mark R. Ambrose - 7/2/2009

Question
QUESTION: ASA slow pitch softball:  Runner on first, No outs: Batter hits pop-up between first and home.  First baseball attempting to run for popup is accidentally tripped by baserunner leaving first base.  The ball lands in fair territory, then rolls foul before ever passing first base.
The umpire ruled the baserunner out for interference and awarded the batter first base stating that interference by the baserunner killed the play and the ball landed fair before rolling foul.  Is he correct? Also, what would have happenned if the pitcher caught the ball?

ANSWER: Hi Gary,

Interference need not be intentional in this case.  The umpire felt R1 impeded or hindered F3 attempting to execute a play.

Once we have interference the ball is dead so what happens after that doesn't matter.  The b-r is awarded 1st base.

Mark

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Follow-up: Yes, there was no dispute it was interference by the first baseman.  Just to clarify--you are saying it wouldn't have mattered if the ball was clearly foul (if it landed in foul territory--you would award the b-r first base?  How can a b-r get awarded first base by hitting a foul ball--I believe ASA clarified rule 8 Sec J-L allowing the umpire to call both the r and b-r out if the fielder could have caught the ball with routine effort. The rule states when interference occurs on a foul ball--the runner is out and a strike is called on the batter.  The question here is whether it was a foul ball or not.  (Whether the ball could have been caught routinely was never an issue--that rule was never discussed at the time) Thank you very much.

Answer
Hi Gary,

"(if it landed in foul territory--you would award the b-r first base?"....I didn't say that, that wasn't part of your question and you're changing the scenario. You told me the ball landed in fair territory and then rolled foul.  

If the ball landed in fair territory it almost certainly must have been over fair territory when interference happened. "Once we have interference the ball is dead so what happens after that doesn't matter."  Therefore since the ball was dead at the time of the interference, it's rolling into foul territory is of no consequence.  It cannot be a foul ball because it was called a dead ball and a dead ball rolling into foul territory means nothing.

Much different that having interference on a fly ball OVER foul territory.

"Once we have interference the ball is dead so what happens after that doesn't matter."... Just to make it clear F1 catching the ball is also of no consequence, it is a dead  ball and you can't have a legal catch on a dead ball.

mark