Obstruction / Interference

Question
I was wondering if you could clarify.  
Base runner on 2nd.  A ball is hit to the short outfield - runner goes home. Catcher and runner collided at about 4 feet up the baseline towards third. Ball was not quite there- What would the call be?  Ball was there what would the call be?

This was in slow pitch softball-
Thanks

Answer
Buck,

Thanks for the question.  Without a doubt, if there is contact between a defensive and offensive player and the defensive play doesn't have the ball, obstruction on the defense unless the offensive player plowed into the defensive player so hard as to be judged malicious.  If the contact is "malicious" then you have interference that overrides the obstruction and the runner would be out.

If the defense has the ball, the runner is out assuming there was a tag.