What should occur if a plate umpire obstructs a throw to second base?

When a plate umpire obstructs a throw to second base, the correct action is to call the ball dead and return all runners to their previous bases. This is based on the premise that the obstruction by the umpire interferes with the play and disrupts the proper execution of the game. The intent is to maintain fairness and ensure that all players have a level playing field, as the obstruction could prevent a runner from advancing or scoring due to an unintentional obstacle.

In this scenario, the obstruction creates an unfair advantage or disadvantage, so the ruling seeks to revert the situation to the moment before the obstruction occurred. This maintains the integrity of the game and upholds the rules that emphasize fair play. Other options do not address the necessary protocol of calling the play dead due to the umpire's obstruction, and therefore do not adhere to the established guidelines in the NFHS rules.