Bat blocking home plate

Question
Is the umpire responsible for or allowed to remove a bat from home plate once the batter is on base? My daughter plays 12U fast pitch. Our coach was thrown out of the game for reprimanding the umpire for not removing the bat from home plate. Our runner at third could have slid home easily, but was afraid of the obstruction. Is the umpire allowed to move a bat blocking the plate, or must he leave the bat where it was dropped by the batter?

Answer
Hi Chris,

Please take this in the good spirit it is meant....umpires are not bat-boys!

You will see some umpires pick up, kick, etc. bats but as a tournament UIC I reprimand (gently) my umpires for doing that.  Why, you ask?  Because in order to do something with the bat the umpire has to take their eyes off the field and what's happening there.

I actually had an umpire in a tournament 2-3 years ago, go to kick the bat out of the way, slip on the bat and fall backwards over it onto the ground.  What's their call if something happens? (which is exactly what I asked him after the game, he never did it again)

The umpire's job is what's happening on the field, if the on-deck batter wants to move the bat and is not going to get in the way of a play, I have no problem with that, but the risk is they could be called for interference if they get in the way of something.

Otherwise until all play stops the bat is just part of the game.  I personally haven't touched a bat during play in 15 years.

Mark