So this happened last night in a 12c fall league under USSSA rules. Runners on first and third, inexperienced pitcher with a slow pitching motion on the mound. Per the rules runner has to be in contact with the bag until the ball leaves the pitchers hand. (forgive me if I just stated the obvious) So halfway through her motion the the pitcher stops because the runner on first has already left the bag. What is the call?
What is the call?
- Thread starter SMS90
- Start date
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Illegal pitch unless the play has already been called dead by the field umpire.
- Sep 29, 2014
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Well I don't have USSSA book in front of me but I'm pretty sure the instant a runners foot comes off the bag the call is an IMMEDIATE DEAD BALL. So nothing after that instant matters and the runner is out.
I am with DJ, once the runner leaves the bag play should stop.
We play most games with 1 umpire, leaving early rearly gets called. For us it would probably be an illegal pitch.
We play most games with 1 umpire, leaving early rearly gets called. For us it would probably be an illegal pitch.
It was the wrong call.
Couple years ago DD's coach went ballistic, one time only.
Ump said they were not paying attention. ��
Couple years ago DD's coach went ballistic, one time only.
Ump said they were not paying attention. ��
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The umpire should have called no pitch the instant the runner left prior to the ball being released by the pitcher and called the runner out. However, if the umpire didnt see or call the leaving early, now you have an illegal pitch. Unless the umpire calls no pitch or dead ball, the pitcher should always complete their pitching motion.
From the description it sounds as if this was the typical motion of the pitcher on every pitch. There are rules governing if the pitcher commits an illegal pitch for the purpose of causing the runner to leave early. If that were to be the case, the leaving early is ignored and the illegal pitch penalty is enforced.
From the description it sounds as if this was the typical motion of the pitcher on every pitch. There are rules governing if the pitcher commits an illegal pitch for the purpose of causing the runner to leave early. If that were to be the case, the leaving early is ignored and the illegal pitch penalty is enforced.
the umpire should only and always call "dead ball" for a runner leaving early, never "no pitch".
Cant find it in print at the moment or for that matter any reference in the umpire manual saying anything about runners leaving early, but any clinic I have ever attended has taught the call for leaving early is no pitch with the hands up dead ball signal which by the way is the same signal for foul, time, no pitch and dead ball.
