Rules - Interference

OBR 7.09(k) - Interference by batter or runner if:  he fails to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball.....

This is a pretty easy call IMO.  In fact I'd ask the question as the play is described if there wasn't malicious contact and should there be an ejection of the batter.  If he smoked him while the pitcher was bent over attempting to pick up the ball and knocked him on his butt...he's done for the day if I am making the call.  The base runners have to avoid contact on these plays, the fielder has the right to field the ball 100% of the time. 

I think it was unintentional, but I had the same thought.  I felt it should have minimally been interference.  The umpire did not call anything and stated it was a judgement call.  It was not clear to me which part he was referring to because the batter clearly ran the pitcher over.

Curious - judgement call in what regard?  The only judgement on this play is if the runner made contact prior to the fielder having the opportunity to field the ball.  Is it possible that he is ruling the pitcher had a play, made it and then there was contact? 

Alternatively he might be treating the Pitcher the same as the catcher.  There is a note in the rules about contact with the catcher.  Think about the Carlton Fisk / Ed Armbrister play in the 1975 World Series.

He didn't elaborate.. but I suspected he was referring to the ball already being foul when they made contact... 

If the ball was on the grass (assumes dirt baseline) when the contact occurred then I would be surprised he didn't have a few questions from the defensive coach about what he saw.  Even so that would be the only reasonable explanation for the call.

If it was (judged to be) foul, then it is not INT.  Or, if F1 had a play on the ball, but chose not to make it (for whatever reason), and then went back for it, it might not be INT.  Or, if the umpire "protected" another fielder, then not INT (but it might be OBS).

Regarding fielding a batted ball....hard grounder off F1 and F4 tries to field it. R1 collides with F4. OR... line drive off F3 and F4 tries to catch in the air, R1 collides with F4. NFHS Softball says Interference for both as these are examples of initial fielding of a batted ball. Baseball makes no clear distinction. What is the call in Baseball?  What rule?

Assuming F4 was fielding the ball and not "chasing after" the ball (which is reasonably obvious in the second play, and likely in the first play), it's INT.

Note, however, that if the runner had been hit by the deflected ball, that's nothing.

There's a difference between "interfering with a fielder" and "interfering with the ball"