baseball batter interference

Question
We are currently in the all stars and had a call that made no sense. We had a runner on 1st and 2nd, our batter was up and a wild pitch was made, our batter stepped out of the way (out of the box) and our 2 runners advanced to 3rd and 2nd. The umpire called the runner on 3rd out for interference. When the coach asked what had happened the umpire stated it was a judgement call. We only get 4 games and the same umpire pulled this 2 times on us, and the other team is just as confused as we are, but they get the win. This has cost us our championship, and alls that is said is it is there judgement call, without an explanation. Could you help, so this doesn't happen to us again. This is Junior Little League in Iowa. Thanks

Answer
Lori,

Chances are, the umpire sees the batter interfering with the throw.  If this was the case, he is correct, it is interference.  However, by rule 6.06 (c), the batter is out, not the runner.

I would question the umpire on this matter.  Ask if it was interference on the batter, then question the interpretation of the rule to state the batter is out, not the runner.

I hope this has helped.

-Martin Hoover