24 INTERFERENCE Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders, or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play. If the umpire declares the batter, batter-runner, or a runner out for interference, all other runners shall return to the last base that was, in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference, unless otherwise provided by these rules. COMMENT: In the event the batter-runner has not reached first base, all runners shall return to the base last occupied at the time of the pitch; provided, however, if during an intervening play at the plate with less than two outs a runner scores, and then the batter-runner is called out for interference outside the three-foot lane, the runner is safe and the run shall count. Defensive interference is an act by a fielder which hinders a batter from hitting a pitch. i. Umpire’s interference occurs (1) when an umpire hinders, impedes or prevents a catcher’s throw attempting to prevent a stolen base, or (2) when a fair ball touches an umpire on fair territory before passing a fielder. ii. Spectator interference occurs when a spectator reaches out of the stands or goes on the playing field and touches a live ball. iii. On any interference, the ball is dead. A LEAGUE is a group of teams organized into a minimum of three teams and a maximum of 9 teams in 12U, 10U and 8U, and 11 teams in 6U age divisions, franchised within a common boundary, who play teams within their division in a pre-arranged schedule under these rules for local league play to determine a league champion in each division. LEGAL (or LEGALLY) is in accordance with these rules. A LINE DRIVE is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to a fielder without touching the ground. A LIVE BALL is a ball which is in play. A LOCAL LEAGUE OPTION gives a league the right to adopt any rule listed for “Local League Option.” If the league’s governing body fails to adopt the rule it does not apply. This option does not give a league the right to redesign the rule to its satisfaction but only the right to accept the option of using it or not. LOCAL LEAGUE TOURNAMENTS are tournaments played at the local level between regular season teams. These local tournaments may be played using either regular season rules or tournament rules. The MANAGER is the one who supervises a team and whose name appears on the Team Player Registration Form. (a) The manager shall always be responsible for the team’s conduct, observance of the official rules, and deference to the umpires. (b) If a manager leaves the field, that manager shall designate the coach as a substitute and such substitute manager shall have the duties, rights, and responsibilities of the manager. OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder, who, while not in possession of the ball, or not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. COMMENT: If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough to the fielder so he must occupy his position to receive the ball he may be considered “in the act of fielding a ball.” It is entirely up to the judgment of the umpire as to whether a fielder is in the act of fielding a ball. After a fielder has made an attempt to field a ball and missed, he can no longer be in the “act of fielding” the ball. For
