Batter interference??

[Greatdaytobeawildcat]

With less than 2 outs, runner closest to home is out, other runners return to bases at time of pitch, batter remains with same count.
With two outs, batter out inning over.

No. At least in USA, USSSA, the batter is always out. Doesn’t matter how many outs there are. Batter interference, penalty: dead ball, batter is out.

 

[chinamigarden]

I had my dog with me. I got distracted by the dog and the next thing I know.... For some reason, I always thought that interference had the runner closest to home as out, but I am guessing I am / was totally confused.

That could be the case if the batter interferes after she is out. Like on strike 3.

 

[PharmerBrown]

No. At least in USA, USSSA, the batter is always out. Doesn’t matter how many outs there are. Batter interference, penalty: dead ball, batter is out.

Shouldn't the runners return to the last occupied base at the time of the interference?

 

[Greatdaytobeawildcat]

Shouldn't the runners return to the last occupied base at the time of the interference?

Yes. I was just correcting the point about who was out.

 

[MoJo]

Had to be there. We have all seen umps make calls that seem to be their pet peeve. The last 2 weekends the umps here don't seem to recognize obstruction anymore.

 

[The Man In Blue]

With less than 2 outs, runner closest to home is out, other runners return to bases at time of pitch, batter remains with same count.
With two outs, batter out inning over.

The player who interferes is ALWAYS the one out. If you can’t call a player who interfered out, then you go looking for the next one on the list (and that depends on the situation).

Why couldn’t you call them out? Because they are not a player or are not an active participant in the game (on deck, retired runner, not in the line up, etc.).

 

[BretMan]

With less than 2 outs, runner closest to home is out, other runners return to bases at time of pitch, batter remains with same count.
With two outs, batter out inning over.

That's only true for some softball rule sets. It's true for baseball and I believe for some softball rule sets that are derived from baseball, like Little League. But for USA, USSSA, and NFHS it's always the batter who is out for batter interference.

 

[The Man In Blue]

That's only true for some softball rule sets. It's true for baseball and I believe for some softball rule sets that are derived from baseball, like Little League. But for USA, USSSA, and NFHS it's always the batter who is out for batter interference.

OBR




I left that exception in there to show that you aren't crazy, just mixed up.

You can get the out on the runner if the batter interferes with a play at the plate (not a catcher's throw to another base) OR if the batter is already out (e.g., struck out and then interferes).

In those cases, we revert to




For a softball example, NFHS Softball gets there more succinctly:

 

[inumpire]

I had my dog with me. I got distracted by the dog and the next thing I know.... For some reason, I always thought that interference had the runner closest to home as out, but I am guessing I am / was totally confused.

The player who creates the interference is the one out.
If a retired runner interfere, then the runner closes to home would be out.