question about a call

Runners on 2nd and 3rd, batter hits the ball to right field. Right fielder fields ground ball makes throw toward home. Runner at 3rd had scored, runner at second coming home. Runner who had scored turned around moved back toward plate to assist second runner as to approach at home and gets hit by the ball coming in from right field. Runner from second scored and due to ball hitting player batter runner continues all the way to third.

The location of player who was hit was close to home plate; fair, foul, half fair half foul not sure exactly.

Umpire response was that the player has the right to come back and direct the other runner coming home, also said the batter runner would have made 3rd anyway if the catcher had missed the ball from right.

What should have happened or been called; was he correct?

 

NFHS Rule 8-6-18 was changed this year. Intent by the retired runner or runner who has scored is not required for an interference call of this nature.

If a runner who has scored or has been put out interferes with a fielders oppurtunity to make a play on another runner the runner closest to home should be called out, and runners returned to last base touched at time of interference.

With that said, you quoted the umpire as saying, "...the batter runner would have made 3rd anyway if the catcher had missed the ball from right."

Are you saying the catcher tried to field the throw, missed it and then the ball hit R1 (the runner on 3rd)?

Or, the thrown ball hit R1, before the catcher had the chance to field it?

If the ball was misplayed by the catcher before it touched R1 that would make it difficult to judge a play could have been made on the b-r.

If the ball hit R1 before the catcher had an oppurtunity to field it then interference may be correct if there was an oppurtunity to make a play on another runner. (the benefit of doubt as to whether a play was possible should go to the defense)

If interference is called then the following rulings should have been rendered;

If R2 did not touch the plate before the ball touched R1 then R2 should be declared out and the b-r should be returned to the last base touched at the time of interference.

If R2 touched the plate before the ball touched R1 then the b-r should be declared out and 2 runs have scored.

Theres a lot of ifs, but in this sport you really HTBT to determine what should have happened.

Hope this helps.

 

The catcher could not make a play do to the ball hitting the runner who had scored.
Runner 2 had not crossed at the time the ball hit runner 1

I think he thought no intent no foul?

 

(added: That is what I thought, but this was a rule change this year and umpires should know the changes at the very least. Hope it wasn't a conference game.)

Bad ruling, no hot dog for blue. lol