Game Situation: Batter's Interference on a Walk


 
No outs, right-handed batter, and a runner on first who is stealing on a 3-1 pitch. The pitch is ruled a ball (ball four, walk) but as the batter exits the batter's box to go to first base on the walk, the catcher's throw to second (the catcher thought the pitch was a strike) hits the batter in the helmet and the ball bounces out of play.
 
-The defense wants batter interference (so the batter is out and the runner returns to first base).
 
-The offense wants the runners to be awarded extra bases because the catcher threw the ball out of play.
 
If you rule with the offense coach, how many bases do you award?
 
Call
Unless the batter-runner intentionally interfered with the catcher's thrown, he has the right to walk to first. When the ball strikes the batter-runner and goes out of play, the ball is dead. The runner is placed on 3rd base and the batter-runner is placed on 2nd base. (NF 8-3-3c2)