Coach gets in way

The batted ball, although on the foul side of the base line, was not yet a foul ball.  If the third baseman had any chance at all of getting to it to make an attempt to make the catch, the batter would be called out for the third base coach's interference.

If the third base coach was trying to get out of the way but still prevented the fielder from making a play on the batted ball in flight he'd still be guilty of interference.  Batter out.

Similar/dissimilar situation in NTGson's game last week: runner on 3rd, taking lead in foul territory, soft ground ball just outside the line, runner kicks ball to 3rd base coach who fields it and tosses back to plate ump.

Upon questioning, both officials stated that there was no interference because the ball was plainly a foul ball, therefore no interference.

However, the possibility of a bad hop back into fair territory was eliminated by runner's actions.

This turned out not to be crucial to the outcome, but could have been had NTGson's team not scored 5 in bottom of 7 to win 6-5.

Almost had the same thing happen in my daughter's college game.  High fly foul at 1st.  My daughter went to area of coaching box but wind blowing.  Ball is coming back. 1st base coach is now blocking my daughter from catching the ball but I know it was unintentional.  Coach looks like she is trying to get out of the way but ever move she made was same as daughter.  2B ended up running down the ball and caught it right before 1st base coach would have done so.  Daughter and coach laughed afterwards. 

Got to talk to the coach today after I posted the question.  The ump said in his opinion the fielder did not have a chance at catching the ball.  I think overall he was right and he wouldn't get there but it sure did look funky.

Thanks

Given the umpire's judgment, correct call.  The judgment depends on the speed of the ball, how close it was to the line, how close it was to the base.  We don't need to eliminate all possibility of the ball becoming fair, just beyond a reasonable doubt.

Of course, it's better if R3 / coach don't touch it until it passes the base.

That sounds like INT well before F4 caught the ball.

Found this under an amatuer baseball ump site. Goes along with what I was thinking. Also the OP stated that he was in the coaches box which is where he should be but has to make an effort to interfer with the fielder and get out of the way.

(1) blatantly and avoidably hinders a fielder's try to field a fair or catchable batted ball or thrown ball.

A coach must try to avoid a fielder trying to field. If he tries to avoid, but contacts a fielder, it is not interference. In most cases, a coach who does not try to avoid contact with a fielder will have interfered.[5.08][7.11]

  (2) Intentionally hinders or impedes a fielder's try to field a fair or catchable batter ball or a thrown ball. [3.15]

I'd be interested to know what rule book that language came from. 

I'm not familiar with every rule book but pretty familiar with NFHS and OBR.  I don't know of any language in either of those books that states, on a batted ball, the base coach may be excused from interference if he was trying to get out of the way.  He must give way to the fielder.

OBR 7.11 - The players, coaches or any member of a team at bat shall vacate any space (including both dugouts or bullpens) needed by a fielder who is attempting to field a batted or thrown ball.  If a member of the team at bat (other than a runner)hinders a fielder's attempt to catch or field a batted ball, the ball is dead, the batter is declared out and all runners return to the bases occupied at the time of the pitch.

Although a base coach can avoid, in some cases, being charged with interference with a thrown ball, not so with a batted ball.