D3K

Question
Situation:14U girls FP. D3K no one on no outs, ball gets past catcher in foul
territory towards the 1st base side. BR runs down baseline in the BR box.
Catcher overthrows the 1B, the RF and all the way to the fence. BR continues
running all the way home. After this entire incident  the umpires stops play
and declares the BR out and proceeds to ask me if I know why she is calling
the BR out as to which I respond no. Umpire then states that the BR is out due
to interference by not running into the field of play and allowing the defensive
to team the opportunity to make a play.  Long story short, doesn't the BR have
to run in the BR box or foul territory? Is this interference? Umpire stated to me
the BR must run in fair or foul depending on where the ball gets past the
catcher.

Answer
Hi John,

If this is not a joke and I assume it's not, when I stopped sarcastically chuckling with a mixture of sorrow and dread that this person might actually wear the same uniform I do, I knew I needed to thoroughly  answer your question.  It continues to amaze me why the regular rules aren't enough to learn and properly administer and that some umpires decide to make up their own.

In a play like this once the b-r enters the 3' lane they are immune from a call of interference unless they intentionally interfere w/ the throw

If they are not in the 3' lane they can be called out for interference only if they interfere w/ the defensive player taking the throw at 1st.  Not just for the catcher playing dodge-softball as some believe.

There is absolutely no rule that makes the B-R give "the opportunity to make a play" to the catcher in this situation.  The catcher needs to find the best angle they can to get the ball to 1st base.

"Umpire stated to me the BR must run in fair or foul depending on where the ball gets past the catcher."  Yes and if that's true I'm just going to finally get my lobotomy so I can continue to UIC tournaments. They say I'll really like it after I have it done, maybe not the drooling part though.

"After this entire incident the umpires stops play and declares the BR out and proceeds to ask me if I know why she is calling the BR out as to which I respond no. Umpire then states that the BR is out due to interference by not running into the field of play and allowing the defensive to team the opportunity to make a play."  That is just WRONG!  It couldn't be any more incorrect.

As a sn Interference is called when it happens...dead ball...etc. not after play has been completed.

Please remember these simple words for the future...write them down, have a business card made w/ them (just kidding but do remember them) "Please note my protest of your misapplication of the playing rules"!"

Mark