Batter/runner on dropped third strike

[Killer Rabbit]

Runner on first, only one out. Batter swings and misses strike three. My catcher drops and blocks the ball. The runner at first has a little too big of a lead and my catcher throws to first to pick her off. The problem is that the batter is running to first and interferes gets in the way of the throw and the play. Base runner goes to third on the play.

I know that the batter is out, but what about her interference? She is not legally a runner since less than one out/first base occupied. Does the base runner go back to first?

Thanks

[MTR]

Runner on first, only one out. Batter swings and misses strike three. My catcher drops and blocks the ball. The runner at first has a little too big of a lead and my catcher throws to first to pick her off. The problem is that the batter is running to first and interferes gets in the way of the throw and the play. Base runner goes to third on the play.

I know that the batter is out, but what about her interference? She is not legally a runner since less than one out/first base occupied. Does the base runner go back to first?

Thanks

Depends on the rule set and what exactly the interference was.

Barring the retired batting actually doing something more that running toward first, this sound like a DMC.

[Killer Rabbit]

The batter got in the way of the throw and was hit with the ball. My point is that the batter never becomes a runner with first base occupied. So she never should have been in the baseline.

[MTR]

The batter got in the way of the throw and was hit with the ball. My point is that the batter never becomes a runner with first base occupied. So she never should have been in the baseline.

Answer isn't changing, sound like a DMC

[Killer Rabbit]

I am slow tonight. DMC?

[PDad]

I am slow tonight. DMC?

Dumb move catcher.

DMC is normally when the catcher makes an unnecessary throw on a retired batter. I'm puzzled by MTR's use of it here because it was a pick-off attempt and is dependent on the rule set, I guess he's assuming it's ASA and calling DMC for not throwing around the retired batter that is allowed to run to 1B under ASA rules.

Which rule set was this under?

[Killer Rabbit]

Thanks. That was what I was looking for. Which rule allows the runner to run to first?

And by the way, it was a quick block and throw from the plate. The batter was not in the lane.

[PDad]

ASA 8-7P covers interference by retired players and ones that have scored. It has a poorly worded exemption for U3K in the Note.

MTR provided some background on it here - Re: Interference

[Killer Rabbit]

Thanks. I appreciate the help.

[MTR]

Thanks. That was what I was looking for. Which rule allows the runner to run to first?

And by the way, it was a quick block and throw from the plate. The batter was not in the lane.

Well, the lane is irrelevant as there was no batter-runner.

Let me clarify. I stand with the DMC based on the information offered. That doesn't mean it couldn't be interference, but I would need more information. For example, if the runner was going on the u3k as they are trained and often directed to do regardless of whether her advancement is allowed or not and got hit by a throw, it may be nothing, but a bad or even intentional throw. Now, if that retired batter runner stepped in front of or into the throw, that would probably be an act of interference.