Interference?

Question
QUESTION: R1 on 3B with less than 2 outs (don't think the outs matter in this situation).  F5 is playing just in front of the bag.  The batter hits a soft, catchable line drive just on the foul side of the 3B line.  F5 moves toward the ball, but collides with R1 who is breaking on the release of the pitch and is in foul territory, so she is unable to make the catch.  

BU did not call interference.  When questioned, he claimed that a) the play happened too quickly and the runner had no chance to get out of the way; b) the runner and the ball were in foul territory; and c) there was no assurance that F5 would have made the catch.

I didn't think that any of those factors had any bearing on the interference call.  My understanding has been that a defensive player has the right to make a play on a batted ball anywhere on the field, and any offensive team member that impedes her would be considered interference.  

What is the correct call, and if it should have been interference, is the Batter out or is R1 out?

Thanks!

ANSWER: Hi Ron,

Thank you for your question.  Allow me to just follow along with your excellent description of the play.

First, you're right, the outs don't matter in this situation.  Second, you're right again, none of the BU's three reasons why he didn't call out the runner for interference have any bearing here.  Third, pardon me, but your understanding of interference is not necessarily right.  A defensive player doesn't have the right to make a play on EVERY batted ball with the guarantee of an interference call if they are impeded by an offensive team member.  An example of that would be after a batted ball has been deflected by another fielder, but this last point doesn't have anything to do with your play, it's just fyi.

The correct call would have been for either the PU or BU to rule the ball dead and call out the runner.  My rule reference is ASA 8-7-J-1: THE RUNNER IS OUT: "When a runner interferes with a fielder attempting to field a batted fair ball or a foul fly ball."  The latter applies to your play absolutely.

Scott Kelly

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

QUESTION: Scott,

Thanks for your quick answer.  I was aware of your third point, that Interference would not necessarily apply to EVERY batted ball.  I probably could have been clearer.  

One related question...in that situation, what if F5 collided with the 3B coach instead of the runner?  Would there still be interference, and if so, which player would be called out? (I'm guessing yes to the interference call, and that the B/R would be called out)

Answer
Hi Ron,

Thank you for your followup question, and you're welcome for my quick answer of your last question!  

If F5 would have collided with the 3B coach instead of the runner, you're right, AGAIN!, it would have been an interference call.  The ball is dead and the batter, not the batter-runner, but what difference does it make, really, what you call her, is out.  If there were fewer than two outs, the runner who was on 3B, and any other runners, would be returned to the last base touched at the time of the interference, which would likely be the base they occupied at the time of the pitch.

ASA Rule 7-6-I: THE BATTER IS OUT: "When members of the team at bat, including those in the team area, other than runners interfere with a player attempting to field a fair or foul fly ball."

Scott Kelly