Interference, Obstruction or Nothing

Question
Runners on 1B and 2B with one out.  The ball slips from the pitchers had during her delivery and drops behind her.  BR is attempting to advance from 2B to 3B and collides with the SS who is coming in to retrieve the ball.  The pitcher retrieves the ball and throws to 3B and our BR is tagged out due to the collision with the SS.  The umpire let the out stand, and when questioned, offered that the BR could have been called out anyway for interference. That seems wrong since there was no "batted" ball on the play.  It would seem more likely to be obstruction since the defender impeded the runner and was not "in possession of the ball or in the act of fielding a batted ball".

What is the correct call?

Answer
Hi Ron,

You hit it right on the head, "since the defender impeded the runner and was not "in possession of the ball or in the act of fielding a batted ball", we have obstruction and protect the runner.  

This IMO could never be considered interference, forget the batted part, you can interference on many other plays other than a batted ball but this isn't one of them.

mark

Hi Ron



"The umpire let the out stand, and when questioned, offered that the BR could have been called out anyway for interference. That seems wrong since there was no "batted" ball on the play"

My point was with interference you don't need a batted ball, other things can happen w/out a batted ball to have an interference call.

Mark