stealing when coach pitching?

last night, playoff game, 10u, bases loaded, 4 ball count, so offensive coach comes in to pitch, per our local rules. throwing lollipops (slow, looping, slow pitch type pitches, pretty much coming straight down when they reach the plate from about 7 feet up, I think much hard to hit than faster but more level/straight pitch), one hits ground and gets away from catcher, girl on 3rd runs home. For a moment (I am AC), I do not react, then it clicks in me, and I call time, and state we do not steal on coach pitch. opposing HC says we have not done that (ie not stolen) all year. umps (we get two for playoff games) confer, and send runner back to 3rd.

I will say it is not explicitly stated in our local rules, but to me it is a given. otherwise offensive coach could throw the ball to backstop (without penalty, no pitch limit, strikes carry over, balls are simply extra balls) to get runner home (we only coach pitch with bases loaded, so there is always a runner on third.

has anyone ever heard of stealing on coach pitch? in either straight coach pitch or with coach relieving player pitcher per local rules?

Your logic seems sound. Bigger question is why is the guy throwing lollipops? I would be embarrassed to be out there throwing pitches like that...

Our county rec league has the coach come in after 4 balls in 10U also. There is a rule that there is no stealing home also.

Interesting. For DD we used a machine so coaches could not manipulate things, plus some coaches could not pitch. Downside is there was a dang machine in the middle of field.

If the coach is coming into pitch after 4 balls I would like to see no stealing. Offense had a minimum of 4 chances to steal already.

Why are you coach pitching at 10u? Yes I understand it's rec league.

We had all player P in 10U, I could not wait for the year to end so we could move to 12U. Lot of walk feasts.

I could argue either way.

Of course you can't steal when there is coach pitching. We used to do it in 10U the same way after 4 balls as you do.

GunnerShotgun said:

Why are you coach pitching at 10u? Yes I understand it's rec league.

Click to expand...

we only coach pitch on 4 ball count if the bases are loaded. ie, other than one steal home per inning (local rule, 3 steals total per inning), the intent is the girls must put the bat on the ball to score some runs. otherwise we might face, especially early in the year, walking in runs right up to our per inning run limit. and we also fear it would incentivize the girls to leave the bat on their shoulder.

pattar said:

Your logic seems sound. Bigger question is why is the guy throwing lollipops? I would be embarrassed to be out there throwing pitches like that...

Click to expand...

no idea, I guess he feels like they need it slow to hit. I always tried to throw a level pitch, maybe would rise and fall 6-12 inches from my hand to when it crossed the plate. yes, you have to throw it faster than if throwing lollipops, but it is more like what they were seeing from other girls generally. I also when it was pure coach pitch was able to "find" each girls bat by the end of the season, ie pretty much I would hit their bat with the ball.

my own DD actually criticized me a few games ago, I pitched to her too slow. bases loaded, she wanted a pitch that would fly off her bat (I always tell all the girls, the faster the pitch, the further the hit goes).

In 8U rec league, we had a combination of coach pitch and kid pitch with no stealing. By 10U, full softball rules including DTS, infield fly, "hot" home plate, etc..

With that said, allowing stealing with coach pitch is ridiculous.