Interference on throw to second

Question
Hi Mark:

First let me say how much I appreciate the great work you do for this site - I have learned a lot from reading your answers.

Here's the situation: Runner on first, one out. Batter strikes out, runner takes off for second, (Right handed) batter leaves the batter's box and interferes with catcher's throw to second, runner easily makes it to second. Umpire rules the batter out on strikes and the runner out due to interference on the throw. My reading of the fastpitch rules is that the runner should be sent back to first and we have two out with a new batter. What say you? And, hypothetically, what would happen if the third strike had been dropped so that we have a batter/runner?

Answer
Hi Mike,

thanks for the kind thoughts

The situation here is that the batter is already out when they interfered.

8-7-p says when after being declared out...an offensive player interferes w/ a defensive player's opportunity to make a play on another runner the ball is dead,, the runner closest to home is called out, all other runners return.

So I say the call is correct.  batter out on strikes and R1 out on the interference.

Second?  You only have 1 out and 1st base is occupied (the fact that R1 is attempting to steal 2nd does not un-occupy 1st) so D3K does not apply, batter is out same as if the ball was caught, ball is live and with batter interference runner is also out.


mark