Batter Interference - Catcher's Throw Off The Bat

Please watch this play as the catcher's throw nicks the bat on her throw to third. Yes, the 18U girl's fastpitch steal was on and the batter took the pitch and then proceeded to move completely out of the box as her bat got in the way of the throw over her head. Yes, the ball barely glanced off the bat, causing it to veer away from the third baseman. Take your pick of USA Softball 7-6-R or 7-6-S. This is clearly a case of "hindering" and "actively hindering" by the batter in a game with very experienced players. I found this to be an easy call, how about you? What's your call? Michael Leavitt - Orem, Utah

[@rfogle63]

Doesn't matter where her feet are. She can still be in the box and cause interference. Any movement by the batter can constitute Interference. Though technically she was still in the box she made a movement that hindered the catchers throw. INTERFERENCE (a) Offensive interference is an act by a member of the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders, or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play. If the umpire declares the batter, batter-runner, or a runner out for interference, all other runners shall return to the last base that was, in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of interference, unless otherwise provided by these rules. I have always taught my batters that if a runner is on 2nd or 3d to just stand there and make the catcher throw around them.

[@baseballumpires6901]

I got a solid 3” at least between ball and bat. Plus you don’t hear any sound. You blew that call but you also don’t have access to replay to see the ball never hit the bat in slow motion.

[@sansishot2195]

Doesn’t matter if it hit anything. It’s if she moves

[@baseballumpires6901]

@@sansishot2195 read the title of the video and the description where he states his call was based on the ball nicking the bat. Movement itself is not grounds for interference. Catcher got off a clean throw. I would not call interference on this movement as there was none.

[@alanhess9306]

​@@baseballumpires6901 The ball does not need to hit the bat for interference to be called. Any movement in the box that hinders the catcher is interference.

[@baseballumpires6901]

@@alanhess9306 I didn’t say it did. I am commenting on the reason the video says interference was called. Look at the title of the video and the description he gives for why he called interference. Watch the video. The catcher is able to get off a clean throw. I have no interference based on his reasoning in the video title / description and I have no interference based on the players movement either.

[@alanhess9306]

@@baseballumpires6901 I probably should not be commenting on softball rules. I'm a baseball umpire and this would definitely be interference in all baseball rulesets. Having read the rule posted by others, it is apparent that the rules are different and I was wrong. I quit doing softball years ago because I prefer baseball.

[@emyj6648]

doesn’t matter 1 foot needs to be in box at all times

[@umpingwithrpg]

Im gonna break down Batters Interference for all you confused folks here. B.I. rule states - Batter must remain in the box =(That means, for the batter to be protected from B.I. call, they must remain in the box, even if they swing). It then goes on to say ... If the batter makes "ANY OTHER MOVEMENT" (This verbiage covers ALL possible movements a batter can make) that impeads the catchers "ability" to make a play (This means a throw isn't even required, its umpire judgment if they think the catcher wanted to make a play). If either or both of these criteria are met, it IS B.I. So, according to how the rulebook spells it out, the batter is only "Protected" if they hold their batting stance or if they swing and their follow through doesn't interfere with the catcher.

[@jeffstucenski5880]

While it is not the wrong call. I would not have called it. Too ticky tack of a call for my liking. Any infraction on the play would not have changed the result at third. Purely a judgement call that this ump called which is fine. I would not have.

[@mylesmarkson1686]

No nick Mike. Not even close. Ever considered wearing glasses?

[@dh5516]

Catcher throws like a girl, though...

[@jgg2220]

Technically her feet were still in the box at contact. Even standing on the lines you are still in, however you need to hold your place in the box, you cant step in front of the catcher while they are throwing whether you are in the box or not.

[@totaleffort]

Clearly states in the rules the the box is "NOT A SAFE HAVEN." You move in the box, in the catcher's way - both feet in the box at all times, INTERFERENCE.

[@totaleffort]

Whenever we stole third (back in the day) we were expected to keep our right foot planted and put our left foot toward the backstop (swinging gate) getting in the way of the catcher while making it LOOK LIKE we were just getting a signal from 3rd base coach. Our coach knew it was illegal and knew most umps wouldn't call it. The good ones still called it.

[@ronpeacock9939]

If she stayed in her stance and let the play go on.. fine.. but her movement is what got her called. I see this so often it's not funny.. I always get asked what the player could have done... just let the play go on around you.. if the play is coming home.. your' better over by the 1st base dugout but go away from the ball.

[@odessaangels]

Your video doesn’t show the ball touch the bat, looks like a bad throw by the catcher. Even your slow motion doesn’t show the ball hit the bat. No sound where the ball hit the bat, so I have to assume the ball did not touch the bat ! No continuous video to see if the coach had an issue with the call. I didn’t see the interference.

[@umpireva5440]

Right calll

[@chrisbriano3153]

Purely a Judgement call. The batter didn't intentionally interfere with the throw, but at the same time by rule the batter isn't supposed to leave the box. The Catcher did half ass the throw as well so I would have just let that one go. Not saying he is right or wrong But again it's the Home plate umpires judgement.

[@ĆrankyÓldMan2024]

Interference doesn’t have to be intentional, had she not moved her feet, there’d be no interference to call.

[@Fishing_ninja420]

Please enlighten me, where is intent written in any rule for batters interference.

[@TheHockey12]

The throw never hit the bat. Bad call.

[@mptr1783]

doesnt have to hit the bat.......I personally wouldve just let this play go as nothing but I also can see making this call in the moment...

[@babyike37]

Bad call, ball did not hit the bat and she has to have at least one foot out of the batters box at the time of the throw...not after the throw.

[@baseballumpires6901]

Point 1 I agree. It is pretty clear in the video the ball did not hit the bat. Point 2 is a myth. You can still be in the box and be guilty of batter interference if you make any movement that could cause the interference (intent is not required to have interference).

[@charliegarnett9757]

The rule set I work does not require the batter keep foot in the box. Call is a judgement from my point of view. The batter definitely took a step. Did it interfere with throw? As I say I don’t know this rule set so I can’t make call.

[@jakeblock6768]

Clear interference!

[@oaktree1290]

I hate stupid rules

[@sjp35productions6]

At the time of the throw, batter was still in the box. No interference, just a word or two to the batter to bring the bat down.

[@henrybarcena5604]

A batter can be guilty of interference while in the box.... BTW "Hinder or interfere with the defense's ability to make a play"

[@OldandNewforYou]

Henry is correct. You can be guilty even if you’re in the box. The box is “not” a safe haven 100% of the time for the batter. With that logic...you’d be able to break dance in the box after every pitch and not have to worry.

[@MaydayAggro]

Interference is incorrect. If the batter is in the box, she must intentionally interfere to be called for interference. Batter was in the box and did not intentionally interfere. Live ball.

[@OldandNewforYou]

@@MaydayAggro not true Eric. The batter’s box is not a sanctuary. If the batter initiates the interference or hindering in the box or out. She is at fault, and in violation of the rule.

[@MaydayAggro]

@@OldandNewforYou True. It's not a sanctuary for every possible situation. But it is a sanctuary when the batter does not intentionally interfere.

[@TylerBeck19ref]

Doesn’t even look like it hits her bat. Doesn’t even make a sound..... nor change direction

[@OldandNewforYou]

Doesn’t need to be contact. Her throw and or her making the play altogether needs to be hindered or intervened with.

[@baseballumpires6901]

@@OldandNewforYou this is true but he states in the video description his reason for interference was contact with the bat. Based on movement and the throw I have nothing. He blew it but he doesn’t have replay. Unfortunately with replay he thinks he got it right though the replay shows he got it wrong. LOL

[@cubkid82]

@@baseballumpires6901it’s the correct call. Batter stepped in front of the catcher. Doesn’t need to be contact.

[@chrisford1116]

Great call!

[@baseballumpires6901]

The ball didn’t hit the bat and the batters movement did not cause a bad throw. This was a bad call. He doesn’t have replay so it is what it is. But replay would have changed this call.