46 umpire shall immediately call “Time” and declare the runner out. (j) The runner fails to return at once to first base after overrunning or over sliding that base. If attempting to run to second, the runner is out when tagged. If after overrunning or over sliding first base, the runner starts toward the dugout, or toward a position, and fails to return to first base at once, that runner is out on appeal, when said runner or the base is tagged; COMMENT: Runner who touches first base in overrunning and is declared safe by the umpire has, within the intent of Rule 4.08(a) “reached first base” and any run which scores on such a play counts, even though the runner subsequently becomes the third out for failure to return “at once,” as covered in Rule 7.08(j); (k) In running or sliding for home base, the runner fails to touch home base and makes no attempt to return to the base, when a fielder holds the ball in hand, while touching home base, and appeals to the umpire for the decision. (l) A runner wearing a full-face mask, while attempting to reach the next base, attempts a head-first slide. NOTE: This shall apply only to a runner wearing a full-face mask attempting to reach the next base and does not apply to a dive or attempt to return to a base. (m) The runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag; NOTE: The ball is dead and other base runners take bases they had reached, in the umpire’s judgment, when the violation occurred. 7.09–It is interference by a batter or a runner when– (a) After a third strike the batter hinders the catcher in an attempt to field the ball. (b) After hitting or bunting a fair ball, while holding the bat, the bat of such batter hits the ball a second time in fair territory. The ball is dead, and no runners may advance. If the batter-runner drops the bat and the ball rolls against the bat in fair territory and, in the umpire’s judgment, there was no intention to interfere with the course of the ball, the ball is alive and in play. (c) The batter intentionally deflects the course of a foul ball in any manner. (d) Before two are out and a runner on third base, the batter hinders a fielder making a play at home base; the runner is out. (e) Any member or members of the offensive team stand or gather around any base to which a runner is advancing, to confuse, hinder or add to the difficulty of the fielders. Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of teammate or teammates. (f) Any batter or runner who has just been put out, or any runner who has just scored, hinders, or impedes any following play being made on a runner. Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of a teammate. (g) If, in the judgment of the umpire, a base runner willfully and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball with the obvious intent to break up a double play, the ball is dead. The umpire shall call the runner out for interference and call out the batter-runner because of the action of the runner. In no event may bases be run or runs scored because of such action by a runner. (h) If, in the judgment of the umpire, a batter-runner willfully and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball, with the obvious intent to break up a double play, the ball is dead; the umpire shall call the batter-runner out for interference and shall also call out the runner who advanced closest to the home plate regardless where the double play might have been possible. In no event shall bases be run because of such interference. (i) In the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base, or first base, by touching
