Baserunner Interfering with Fielder

Question
Mark,

Friday night in my Men's Slow-Pitch game the following situation occurred.

Runners on 1B and 2B with two out.  Ground-Ball to SS in front of runner on 2B.  Runner on 2B runs to 3B in front of SS without making contact.  SS whiffs on GB and ball rolls into OF.  All runners safe.  SS argues (incorrectly) the ball hit runner.  Umpires conference and call runner out for interfering with the SS by running in front of him!!!  I argue that interference can't be called because no contact was made and nothing else that could be construed as interference (think yelling or hand waving) occurred.  Another conference is made and the call is upheld.  I persist, the Head of Umpires is there so a third conference occurs.  I argue that the runner typically will slow down when running in front of a fielder to screen the fielder.  The Head of Umpires says that very act is interference.  I disagree.  I know it's a judgement call, but this is my 30th season playing and I've never seen that call made.  Think about the ramifications, should the runner stop so as not to impede the fielder in any manner?  I think the Head of Umpires was just protected one of his own.  I don't know what the Umpires at my game were thinking.  The senior umpire was the one who made the call.  Every non-umpire I spoke with afterwards thought the call was ridiculous.

Thank you for your service!

Answer
Hi Bill,

If as you say...if R1 was running in a direct line to 3rd and simply passed in front of F6 and the ball, I have nothing.

R1 cannot invade f6's space nor do anything to purposely hinder (stop in front, slow down or stutter-step in an effort to screen F6, blood curdling scream, etc) F6 but does have a right to try to advance.  I think most senior umpires have the same non-call.

The caveat is as in all judgment cases I would like to see all the elements

Mark