Skip to main content

OK, this actually happened to my son last season in the ACC against NC State. Runners on first and second, my son at the plate. He swung at a pitch, and fouled it straight down, a little behind him. He stood there as the ball spun forward, and slowly made its way to fair territory.  Oops. 

 

The catcher, of course, picked it up and threw to second, and they turned an easy 2-6-3 DP. Very embarrassing, of course. But here is my question:

 

What if, seeing the ball spinning forward through the batters box toward fair territory, had he just kicked it or otherwise touched it? Would that be interference if the ball is in foul territory? 

 

He and I were laughing about the play the other day, and wondering about this. (I told him he's the only guy I ever saw be out at first by 15 feet on a 2-6-3 double play.) 

 

We didn't know the answer, but we agreed that even if it IS interference, it is preferable to a double play! 

 

 

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Originally Posted by Rob Kremer:

OK, this actually happened to my son last season in the ACC against NC State. Runners on first and second, my son at the plate. He swung at a pitch, and fouled it straight down, a little behind him. He stood there as the ball spun forward, and slowly made its way to fair territory.  Oops. 

 

The catcher, of course, picked it up and threw to second, and they turned an easy 2-6-3 DP. Very embarrassing, of course. But here is my question:

 

What if, seeing the ball spinning forward through the batters box toward fair territory, had he just kicked it or otherwise touched it? Would that be interference if the ball is in foul territory? 

 

He and I were laughing about the play the other day, and wondering about this. (I told him he's the only guy I ever saw be out at first by 15 feet on a 2-6-3 double play.) 

 

We didn't know the answer, but we agreed that even if it IS interference, it is preferable to a double play! 

 

 

If a batter-runner deflects a fair ball or intentionally deflects a foul ball that has a chance to go fair, he is out. If the intent was to break up a double-play opportunity, the runner closest to home is also out.

Originally Posted by Rob Kremer:

Thanks, guys. I figured there had to be a rule on this. It is interesting, however, the part about "intent break up a double play."  That, of course, has to be a judgement call. In the situation I describe, with a double play a possibility, would it automatically result in two outs being called?

That's because I was thinking of the pro rule (I hate it when I do that.) In NCAA, it only has to have the condition of "a double play likely." Thus, I'm probably always getting two in the OP.

Add Reply

Post
.
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×