The batter must vacate the plate area when a runner attempts to steal home during a pitch?
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NFHS 7-3-5: Batter is out when he 'fails to make a reasonable effort to vacate the area' when there is a play at home plate and there is time for him to move away.
Thus, it is up to the infallible umpire's judgement as to if the batter had a reasonable opportunity to vacate.
Lon's Opinion (tm): On a straight steal of home, Im going to allow the batter more leeway than if its a slow-developing play, ie, if he makes any descernable movement to back away from the impending tag he's probably OK. But as always, HTBT.
Thus, it is up to the infallible umpire's judgement as to if the batter had a reasonable opportunity to vacate.
Lon's Opinion (tm): On a straight steal of home, Im going to allow the batter more leeway than if its a slow-developing play, ie, if he makes any descernable movement to back away from the impending tag he's probably OK. But as always, HTBT.
Just another reason I am not an umpire! A big thank you to all of you who are and take the time to keep our games running smoothly.
If the R3 is stealing on a pitch, the batter gets a chance to swing at the pitch. If the catcher catches the pitch or it is with-in reach of him then the batter doesn't have to clear.
Once the pitch gets away from the catcher then the batter then neeeds to figure some place to go.
Hope this helps.
Once the pitch gets away from the catcher then the batter then neeeds to figure some place to go.
Hope this helps.
and if the runner decides to jump over the batter, said batter must be laying prone on the ground. LOL
How legal is this -
Runner on third attempts to come home on a steal. The pitcher is delivering the ball and the hitter stays in the box.
The runner slides between the batters legs to get to home plate. Basically the hitter is slightly in the way but never moves.
Runner on third attempts to come home on a steal. The pitcher is delivering the ball and the hitter stays in the box.
The runner slides between the batters legs to get to home plate. Basically the hitter is slightly in the way but never moves.
That's legal but the runner better hope the batter got the steal signal. 
Quite a few years ago, when I was a Varsity coach, I had a batter called out for obstruction and the runner sent back to third for the exact same play. Sliding between the batters legs. He was safe also. 
The key to this was in LonBlue67's original answer. The umpire must determine if the batter had time to get out of the way and, if he did, did he make a reasonable effort to do so.
I have seen attempted steals of home where the catcher received the ball and the runner was still four or five strides from the plate. Obviously the batter needs to move out of the way in those cases. I have also seen cases where the ball and the runner are arriving at almost the same time. Since the batter has to be afforded the opportunity to hit the pitch, he will have virtually no time to bail out and I've ended up making a safe/out call with a tangled mess in front of me; but no interference.
I have seen attempted steals of home where the catcher received the ball and the runner was still four or five strides from the plate. Obviously the batter needs to move out of the way in those cases. I have also seen cases where the ball and the runner are arriving at almost the same time. Since the batter has to be afforded the opportunity to hit the pitch, he will have virtually no time to bail out and I've ended up making a safe/out call with a tangled mess in front of me; but no interference.
POLOGREEN,
If the umpire called your batter out for interference (not obstruction) and sent your runner back to third then he misapplied the rule.
If there are less than two outs, the runner is out. The batter is only called out if there are already two outs.
If the umpire called your batter out for interference (not obstruction) and sent your runner back to third then he misapplied the rule.
If there are less than two outs, the runner is out. The batter is only called out if there are already two outs.
I had this play a few years back, big night game between cross town rivals. The game was tied in a game the visitors were supposed to winning big and the home team steals home. R3 slides headfirst to the infield side, the batter checked his swing, and the catcher tried to go behind the batter and tag the runner. I had a safe call and a very upset manager. If you want to see the manager look on the rulebook cover. Anyway, he wanted the runner out on interference and I wouldn't give it to him. I explained exactly what I've said here, the batter is allowed the chance to swing. Just being there isn't a violation. The manager wanted me to go to my partner for help. I gave him the "Have you lost your mind" look and told him there was no way I was going to do that. Of course my ruling carried the day.
With it being a big game and a night game the place was packed and there were at least 6 to 12 mid to upper level umps behind me. Some agreed, some thought I blew it. After the game we had a big meeting at my truck and I convinced the naysayers I was correct and that they were misapplying the rule. Once they understood why I made the call they all agreed.
Anyway, he wanted the runner out on interference and I wouldn't give it to him. I explained exactly what I've said here, the batter is allowed the chance to swing. Just being there isn't a violation. The manager wanted me to go to my partner for help. I gave him the "Have you lost your mind" look and told him there was no way I was going to do that. Of course my ruling carried the day.With it being a big game and a night game the place was packed and there were at least 6 to 12 mid to upper level umps behind me. Some agreed, some thought I blew it. After the game we had a big meeting at my truck and I convinced the naysayers I was correct and that they were misapplying the rule. Once they understood why I made the call they all agreed.
pilsner I could not believe what that umpire was saying ...when he said to me interference IKNEW I WAS IN TROUBLE! Didn't get thrown out but after the game the other teams coach (we lost by one) told me they had a lot of problems with that umpire. Kids learned a great lesson and held their cool. We won the second game (DH) big.