Runner's Hand Hits Ball During Celebration - Interference?

In the bottom of the 6th inning of the Women's College World Series, Oklahoma batter Rylie Boone hit a double to right-center field. As Florida State outfielder Jahni Kerr's throw returned to the infield, first baseman Bethaney Keen prepared to catch it, but before the softball could get to Keen, it hit the outstretched arms of Boone, who stood atop second base celebrating her hit. Umpires no-called the sequence as Boone advanced to third base on the throwing error charged to Kerr.

The question we received is whether or not this should have been declared interference—or at least a dead ball. To answer, we begin as we always do with the relevant rulebook, the NCAA Softball rules.

Rules 11.18 & 12.17 define interference as "an act that denies a defensive player a reasonable opportunity to make a play (field/throw) anywhere on the playing field. The act may be intentional or unintentional, and the ball must have been playable."

Replays indicate the offensive player's act denied a defensive player a reasonable opportunity to receive a throw, but not to make the throw itself (similar to runner's lane interference with the fielder taking the throw, not the one giving it). The act was unintentional insofar as the runner did not appear to intend to interfere and the ball appeared potentially playable to infielder Keen, who lined up to catch the throw before it struck the runner's outstretched hand.

Rule 12.4.6 states a runner is out "when they commit an act of interference" but because the definition is somewhat vague regarding this play, we continued reading to Rule 12.17.2.1.5.2: "The runner may not at any time unnecessarily wave their arms or verbally distract the fielder."

Although it would appear the runner did not verbally distract any fielder, could one deem that the celebratory gesture constituted a violation of the "unnecessarily wave their arms" provision?

What's your call? Choose carefully, because if this is interference, the required penalty is the runner is out. If this is not interference, the runner is safe at third on the throwing error. There is no intermediate option (e.g., the rules do not allow an umpire to call "Time" and place the runner back on second base).

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 093 - Hunter Wendelstedt (4; Brandon Hyde)

HP Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ejected Orioles manager Brandon Hyde (strike three call to Ryan O'Hearn; QOCY) in the top of the 5th inning of the #Orioles-#Brewers game. With one out and one on, Orioles batter O'Hearn took a 2-2 cutter from Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner edge of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px 0.64, pz 1.61 [sz_bot 1.70 / RAD 1.58]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Brewers were leading, 4-0. The Brewers ultimately won the contest, 10-2.

This is Hunter Wendelstedt (21)'s 4th ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 1.36 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 93rd ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 45th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 45 Managers, 38 Players, 10 Coaches.

This is Baltimore's 4th ejection of 2023, T-2nd in the AL East (NYY 6; BAL, BOS 4; TOR, TB 2).

This is Brandon Hyde's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 10 (Malachi Moore; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Hunter Wendelstedt's 4th ejection of 2023, 1st since May 19 (Skip Schumaker; QOC = N [Pitch Clock]).

Wrap: Baltimore Orioles vs Milwaukee Brewers, 6/7/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 091-2 - Carlos Torres (2-3; CIN x2)

HP Umpire Carlos Torres ejected Reds manager David Bell in the bottom of the 5th (strike one call to Tyler Stephenson; QOCY) and pitcher Alex Young (balls/strikes to Mookie Betts; QOCY) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Dodgers-#Reds game. In the 5th, with two out and two on, Reds batter Tyler Stephenson took a first-pitch slider from Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and thigh-high (px 0.52, pz 1.73 [sz_bot 1.51]), the call was correct. At the time of Bell's ejection, the Dodgers were leading, 8-3. In the 6th, with one out and one on, Dodgers batter Mookie Betts took four called balls (and a strike) from Young. Replays indicate all pitches were properly officiated, the call was correct. At the time of Young's ejection, the Dodgers were leading, 8-4. The Reds ultimately won the contest, 9-8.

These are Carlos Torres (37)'s 2nd and 3rd ejections of 2023.

*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.

These are the 91st and 92nd ejection reports of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 44th manager ejection of 2023.

This is the 38th player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 44 Managers, 38 Players, 10 Coaches.

This is Cincinnati's 4/5th ejection of 2023, T-2nd in the NL Central (STL 6; CIN, MIL 5; CHC, PIT 3).

This is David Bell's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since May 21 (Emil Jimenez; QOC = U [Quick Pitch]).

This is Alex Young's first career MLB ejection.

This is Carlos Torres' 2/3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since May 6 (Brandon Belt; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds, 6/6/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 090 - DJ Reyburn (3; Eric Chavez)

HP Umpire DJ Reyburn ejected Mets bench coach Eric Chavez (strike one call to Brandon Nimmo; QOCY) in the top of the 3rd inning of the #Mets-#Braves game. With one out and one on, Nimmo took a first-pitch fastball for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and thigh-high (px -0.32, pz 2.80), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Braves were leading, 1-0. The Braves ultimately won the contest, 6-4.

This is DJ Reyburn (70)'s 3rd ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 7.13 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 90th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 10th coach ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 43 Managers, 37 Players, 10 Coaches.

This is New York's 3rd ejection of 2023, 3rd in the NL East (MIA 7; PHI 5; NYM 3; ATL 1; WAS 0).

This is Eric Chavez's first career MLB ejection.

This is DJ Reyburn's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since June 2 (Corbin Burnes; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: New York Mets vs Atlanta Braves, 5/6/23 | Video as follows:

There's No Blowing in Baseball - Alek Manoah's Lenny Randle Moment

In his last start before being optioned, Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah got creative trying to thwart Astros batter Jeremy Peña's bunt single along the third base foul line, stooping down to blow the ball foul. Thanks to 1980s Mariners third baseman Lenny Randle, umpires learn this play in their history books and we venture back to 1981 with Seattle playing Kansas City to learn more about blowing in baseball.

On May 27, 1981, Royals batter Amos Otis hit a dribbler up the third base foul line, where Seattle's Randle got down on the ground and successfully blew the ball from fair territory into foul ground. After the play, HP Umpire Larry McCoy awarded Otis first base, ruling that Randle illegally interfered with the course of a ball without touching it—had he touched it, the ball would have been fair, and the logic goes that a fielder shouldn't be able to influence the path of the ball in a situation where they are trying not to touch it.

This gave rise to the MLB Umpire Manual rule interpretation that exists to this day called, "Infielder Interferes with Course of Ball" which states, "When a batted ball is rolling fair down the foul line between home plate and either first or third base and a fielder stoops down over the ball and blows on it or in any other manner does some act that in the judgment of the umpire causes the ball to roll onto foul territory, the umpire shall rule a fair ball. The ball is alive and in play."

Accordingly, HP Umpire Scott Barry called the ball fair as soon as Manoah blew on it, as blowing the ball is strictly prohibited.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 089 - Jansen Visconti (1; Mark Kotsay)

HP Umpire Jansen Visconti ejected Athletics manager Mark Kotsay (strike three call to Ryan Noda; QOCY) in the top of the 7th inning of the #Athletics-Pirates game. With two out and none on, A's batter Noda took a 3-2 fastball from Pirates pitcher Johan Oviedo for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px -0.15, pz 1.50 [sz_bot 1.61 / RAD 1.49]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Pirates were leading, 4-3. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

This is Jansen Visconti (52)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 1.12 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

A half inning earlier, Pittsburgh took the lead by scoring a run on a time play. With the bases loaded and one out, Pirates batter Jack Suwinski hit a fly ball to right field, caught by A's outfielder Seth Brown, who threw to third base as Pirates baserunners R3 Austin Hedges and R2 Andrew McCutchen tagged up. As Pirates third baseman Jonah Bride caught the thrown ball, McCutchen stopped and got into a brief rundown, providing just a few seconds of extra time to ensure preceding runner R3 Hedges touched home plate and scored a run before the third out was recorded, as signaled by HP Umpire Visconti.

This is the 89th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 43rd manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 43 Managers, 37 Players, 9 Coaches.

This is Oakland's 4th ejection of 2023, T-1st in the AL West (OAK, SEA 4; HOU 3; LAA 2; TEX 1).

This is Mark Kotsay's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since May 14 (Dan Bellino; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Jansen Visconti's 1st ejection since June 19, 2022 (AJ Hinch; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Oakland Athletics vs Pittsburgh Pirates, 6/5/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 088 - Phil Cuzzi (2; David Ross)

HP Umpire Phil Cuzzi ejected Cubs manager David Ross (ball two call to Gary Sanchez; QOCY) in the bottom of the 2nd inning of the #Cubs-#Padres game. With one out and one on, Padres batter Sanchez took a 1-0 sinker from Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks for a called second ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the inner edge of home plate and above the hollow of the knee (px -0.90, pz 2.00), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0. The Padres ultimately won the contest, 5-0.

This is Phil Cuzzi (10)'s 2nd ejection of 2023.

*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.

This pitch was located 1.82 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 88th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 42nd manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 42 Managers, 37 Players, 9 Coaches.

This is Chicago's 3rd ejection of 2023, T-3rd in the NL Central (STL 6; MIL 5; CHC, CIN, PIT 3).

This is David Ross' 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since May 13 (Emil Jimenez; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Phil Cuzzi's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 19 (Max Scherzer; QOC = U [Illegal Substance]).

Wrap: Chicago Cubs vs San Diego Padres, 6/5/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 087 - Chris Guccione (2; Alex Cora)

HP Umpire Chris Guccione ejected Red Sox manager Alex Cora (strike three call to Rafael Devers; QOCY) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Rays-#RedSox game. With two out and one on (R1), Devers took a 3-2 fastball from Rays pitcher Colin Poche for a called third strike after which Rays catcher Francisco Mejia threw out Red Sox baserunner R1 Alex Verdugo for a strikeout-throwout double play to end the inning. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and above the hollow of the knee (px -0.14, pz 1.56 [sz_bot 1.53 / RAD 1.40]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Rays were leading, 4-1. The Rays ultimately won the contest, 4-1.

This is Chris Guccione (68)'s 2nd ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 2.92 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 87th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 41st manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 41 Managers, 37 Players, 9 Coaches.

This is Boston's 4th ejection of 2023, 2nd in the AL East (NYY 6; BOS 4; BAL 3; TOR, TB 2).

This is Alex Cora's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 24 (Quinn Wolcott; QOC = Y-c [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Chris Guccione's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since May 6 (Craig Counsell; QOC = Y [Pitch Clock]).

Wrap: Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox, 6/5/23 | Video as follows:

Sheldon HS Softball Defeats Oregon City on Obstruction

Although Oregon City High School threw a no-hitter in its state title game, it nonetheless lost to Sheldon HS thanks to a walk-off obstruction call at third base to end the game, with umpires awarding Sheldon's baserunner home on the play, scoring the only run of the contest.

With one out and one on—a runner at first base whose hit-by-pitch broke up Oregon City's perfect game bid—in the bottom of the 7th and final inning of play, the home team's batter bunted the ball, resulting in a throwing error when the drawn-in infielder's throw bounced past first base. The preceding runner R1 rounded third and headed for home as the defense threw to the catcher, who tagged the runner for the apparent second out of the inning, and threw to second base to tag the batter-runner for an inning-ending double play.

However, the home plate umpire, having rotated up the third base line as the third base umpire moved in to take a potential play at second base, signaled a delayed dead ball as baserunner R1 passed third base. Replays indicate the fielder impeded the runner, resulting in an obstruction call and ultimately a base award that allowed R1 to score despite initially appearing to have been thrown out at home.

Video as follows:

Cronenworth Runs Into Umpire, Ruled Out at 2nd Base

Padres baserunner Jake Cronenworth ran into 2B Umpire Ryan Wills on an infield ground ball as he tried to reach second base, falling over and allowing the Cubs plenty of time to get the out. Should this have been umpire interference or is this nothing...and where should an umpire stand on a play at second base?

To begin, this collision is not umpire interference as there are only two forms of umpire interference in the rulebook: one, when the umpire interferes with the catcher's throw to retire a runner (or interferes with the catcher returning the ball to the pitcher); and, two, when the umpire working inside (as Wills did here) gets hit by a batted ball before the ball has passed an infielder, provided it did not first touch the pitcher.

Thus, there is no umpire interference and no reason to declare the ball dead: 2B Umpire Wills is considered part of the field as Cronenworth runs into him and the out call prevails.

As for position, although an initial stance of Deep B along the infield grass is proper, perhaps we can borrow from the wild pitch principle of clearing the catcher to, instead, "clear the base path" (or potential base path, which includes the baseline) and thus avoid the likelihood of a runner running into the back of an umpire preparing to take a play at the action base.

Video as follows: