How would you rule this play?

[d-mac]

We see this a lot in 9 and 10 year old ball:

Runner on 3rd, he takes off trying to steal home/induce a balk. Pitcher steps off and throws home. Batter attempts to bunt the ball but misses. Is that interference?

Does the ruling change if he swung and missed? If he makes contact are both the batter and runner out?

[ralanprod]

Pretty sure 6.06(c) is the correct rule...

6.06
(c)A batter is out for illegal action when -- He interferes with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base

Batter is out, runner back to 3rd.

The league might want to consider a rule at that age forbidding attempts to hit the ball when there is a steal of home in progress. Eventually a runner is going to get creamed by either a shot off the bat or the bat itself. I think most sensible coaches already do this though. In our old league it was an auto ejection for the 3rd base coach if a player attempted to hit the ball during a steal attempt of home.

[UAME]

Pretty sure 6.06(c) is the correct rule...

6.06
(c)A batter is out for illegal action when -- He interferes with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base

Batter is out, runner back to 3rd.

Wrong. There is an exception to that rule. 7.08(g) states that in cases where the batter interferes on a play at the plate with a runner trying to score, the RUNNER is out and the batter remains at bat.

Sounds like you might need some local league rule adjustments, as this is pretty ridiculous exploitation of first / second year pitchers. Dixie Youth Baseball prohibits runners leading off the bag until the pitch crosses the plate, and any "BALK" is simply a No Pitch (runners do not advance.)

[Baseball gLove]

It's not illegal to lead off 3rd base in travel/club nor in PONY Mustang (10u)

[d-mac]

This is travel ball, so anything goes. It's happened against us twice this year and both were mix ups. We had one situation where the kid took a full swing and the runner froze about 10 feet from home plate, that was an actual pitch. The other was the attempted bunt when our pitcher stepped off. No one knew what the ruling should be. The umpire ruled that the batter didn't interfere since he didn't make contact. We argued that simply offering to bunt on a non pitch would constitute interference.

[tg643]

Did the pitcher step off properly. If not, it's a balk. Otherwise the hitter is interferring with a live field play.

[d-mac]

Did the pitcher step off properly. If not, it's a balk. Otherwise the hitter is interferring with a live field play.

yes, pitcher stepped off properly.

[ralanprod]

Wrong. There is an exception to that rule. 7.08(g) states that in cases where the batter interferes on a play at the plate with a runner trying to score, the RUNNER is out and the batter remains at bat.

Initially that's what I thought - but then the first thing I came across was 6.06 (c). (Would it be so tough to put a note saying "see also...")

It seems like the rules somewhat contradict themselves though. Suppose the batter interferes with the "non-pitch" but the runner is in the process of returning to the base, not "attempting to score"? Then it would appear 6.06 (c) would apply. Does the ump have to judge if he was actually attempting to score or not?

I'm apparently over thinking again.

[powermatt99]

In High School play, interference is called when a batter does not make a reasonable attempt to vacate a "congested" area when a runner is trying to score. In my opinion, it is the responsibility of the runner to know that the pitcher has become a fielder by stepping off of the rubber and not offer at a throw. Also, in my opinion, ignorance of an attempted steal of home does not negate an interference call if the batter offers at a non-pitch and interferes with the catcher's ability to make a tag or receive the ball from the fielder.

I don't know the specifics of the 10U rule book.

[tradosaurus]

This is travel ball, so anything goes. It's happened against us twice this year and both were mix ups. We had one situation where the kid took a full swing and the runner froze about 10 feet from home plate, that was an actual pitch. The other was the attempted bunt when our pitcher stepped off. No one knew what the ruling should be. The umpire ruled that the batter didn't interfere since he didn't make contact. We argued that simply offering to bunt on a non pitch would constitute interference.

That's why 10U players shouldn't be allowed to lead off. there are safety issues to consider.

[jbooth]

Wrong. There is an exception to that rule. 7.08(g) states that in cases where the batter interferes on a play at the plate with a runner trying to score, the RUNNER is out and the batter remains at bat.

Sounds like you might need some local league rule adjustments, as this is pretty ridiculous exploitation of first / second year pitchers. Dixie Youth Baseball prohibits runners leading off the bag until the pitch crosses the plate, and any "BALK" is simply a No Pitch (runners do not advance.)

Now you're wrong. 6.06c applies to the batter. When no runner is trying to score. He is out and runners return.

7.08g applies to when a runner from third is trying to score when 6.06c is in effect.

In THAT case, the number of outs at the time, affects the ruling. With less than two out, the runner is out, but with two outs the batter is out, and no run can score.

[jbooth]

We see this a lot in 9 and 10 year old ball:

Runner on 3rd, he takes off trying to steal home/induce a balk. Pitcher steps off and throws home. Batter attempts to bunt the ball but misses. Is that interference?

Does the ruling change if he swung and missed? If he makes contact are both the batter and runner out?

When the pitcher legally disengages, he is no longer the pitcher, so the throw home is a "throw/play", not a "pitch."

The batter cannot hit a throw. If he swings and misses it is generally considered interference with the catcher. But, it is a judgment call. The umpire must judge if the catcher was hindered or not, by the batter's actions.

If the ump judges interference then with less than 2 out, the runner is out and other runners go back. If there are two outs, the batter is out and no run can score.

[CircleChange11]

That's why 10U players shouldn't be allowed to lead off. there are safety issues to consider.

60 feet bases is why 10U runners shouldn't be able to lead off.

Seriously, we continually see [1] small leads, [2] medium speed pitches, [3] good exchange/throw by catcher, [4] stolen base without a slide.

Seriously my kid is 6-for-6 in SB. He has never attempted a steal in LL and better not attempt a non-1st&3rd steal in Junior high.

What gets me is the justification is "it's real baseball". No, real baseball doesn't feature 10+ SB's a game.

10U players shouldn't lead off because they steal on the distance, not the pitcher, or the catcher, or due to having great speed and/or baserunning abilities. They steal on the distance.

[azmatsfan]

60 feet bases is why 10U runners shouldn't be able to lead off.

Seriously, we continually see [1] small leads, [2] medium speed pitches, [3] good exchange/throw by catcher, [4] stolen base without a slide.

Seriously my kid is 6-for-6 in SB. He has never attempted a steal in LL and better not attempt a non-1st&3rd steal in Junior high.

What gets me is the justification is "it's real baseball". No, real baseball doesn't feature 10+ SB's a game.

10U players shouldn't lead off because they steal on the distance, not the pitcher, or the catcher, or due to having great speed and/or baserunning abilities. They steal on the distance.

I agree, but those are the rules for Pony and travel ball. For my team I stopped stealing third base. I'm trying to teach my players to read the pitch if it's in the dirt and judge for themselves whether they can run.

[UAME]

Now you're wrong. 6.06c applies to the batter. When no runner is trying to score. He is out and runners return.

7.08g applies to when a runner from third is trying to score when 6.06c is in effect.

In THAT case, the number of outs at the time, affects the ruling. With less than two out, the runner is out, but with two outs the batter is out, and no run can score.

Not clear on how I'm wrong? OP stated R3 stealing home (which to me constitutes "trying to score."). The guy I said was wrong had batter out & R3 back. That should NEVER happen. Its either R3 out or batter makes 3rd out and inning over.