Bat interference call

Question
Dr. Mark
14U asa tournament
With runners on 1st and 2nd, a batter lays down a bunt and drops the bat. Play happens and runners advance and batter beats out the throw to 1st. At this point plate ump calls batter out and brought the runners back to 1st and 2nd because he said that the bat got in the way of catcher making the play. I asked him if he thought that the girl dropped it on purpose to mess up the play and said he did not think she did it on purpose.
I was always taught that once a bat is discarded that it becomes part of the playing field and unless it was thrown with intent it could not interfere with the play.
Does the ump have the right to call a player out when the discarded bat gets in the way of the defensive player making the play when there is no intent on the batter to do so?
Thanks,
Ron

Answer
Hi Ron,

The batter would be out if they discard the bat in such a way it prevents the defense from making a play on the ball.  Intent is not necessary. It is an immediate dead ball, batter out, runners return.  It is also obviously a judgment call by the umpire.  I would need a significant hindrance of the defensive player to make that call not just stepping over the bat for example

You would be correct in once the bat is on the ground and it hasn't prevented the defense from making an initial play on the ball it becomes part of the playing field.

Mark