You make the call.

This happened today in a game. Runner on first (R1). Batter hits hard grounder right at the second baseman who is playing near the baseline. Second baseman moves up into the baseline, stays in front of the ball, and knocks it down. Ball comes to rest right between her feet almost even with her toes. As she bends over to pick up the ball, R1 collides with her and prevents her from making any play. No interference is called and R1 is safe at second and batter runner safe at first. Is that the correct call? Why or why not?

 

Correct call

Second baseman had already touched the ball to make a play. Sounds like she didn't field it cleanly. At that point any contact is incedental or possibly obstruction on the fielder.
2012 NFHS Rule 8 Art. 10
A runner is out if:
The runner interferes :
A. with a fielder attempting to make the initial play on a fair batted ball.
The key word is initial. And that is usually a judgement call.

 

The judgement would be how close the ball is from initial contact.

As long as she is within a step and reach she is making an initial play. In this play if using NFHS rules the runner is guilty of interference.

You might want to read the definition of initial play. (2-47-3c)...within a step and reach from where the ball was first touched.

FWI: Not all rule sets have the initial play rule.

 

What rules were you playing under?

 

If 2B had time to "move up into the baseline" to field the ball but only "knocked it down" then it is an error on the initial play. The contact by R1 had to be after the initial play on the ball and therefore is not interference. Had 2B fielded it cleanly, she could perhaps have tagged R1 and assisted a double play on the batter.

 

High School game

NFHS.
Rule 2-47:

Art. 3...Initial Play. A fielder is considered to be making an initial play on a fair batted ball when she:
a. Has a reasonable chance to gain control of a ground ball that no other fielder
(except the pitcher) has touched.
b. Has a reasonable chance to catch the ball in flight or catch the ball in flight
after it touches another fielder.
c. Fails to gain control of the batted ball and is within a step and a reach (in
any direction) of the spot of the initial contact.
I believe that since she was clearly within a step and a reach of the spot of the initial contact, the umpire should have ruled interference. I'm sorry for the change in font size. That's what happens when I copy and paste the rule and can't quite figure out how to fix it.

 

Correct for Baseball, but not Softball

While in NFHS baseball if you boot the ball you are no longer protected, in NFHS softball the protection lasts until the ball is further then a step and reach from where you first touched it.