Intentional Walk (Baylor vs Arizona)

So in game 03 super regional Baylor vs Arizona, Baylor sets to intentionally walk AZ power-hitter Katiyana Mauga.
They Pitch-out for Ball 01, and then Catcher proceeds to throw to 1B - which was un-occupied.

The penalty for NOT returning ball directly to the Pitcher in this situation is another Ball is assessed to the pitch count.

The problem is, Baylor was using the penalty of this rule to their advantage.
Seems petty, but it looks like they were trying to limit the Pitcher's expended energy in the AZ heat,
and attempted to intentionally walk Mauga on 2 pitches, vs. 4.

But after the 1st throw-down to 1B, Umps called time-out and a long conference ensued.
After play resumed, the count was indeed 2 Balls, 0 Strikes.
However, on the next pitch, the Catcher did return the ball directly to to the pitcher.

Question: Do you think the Baylor bench was warned in some way?
Is there room in the Ruleset to assess a penalty (ejections?), for using the penalty of a Rule to your advantage?

I'm just curious....

Heck, with no Baserunners, Baylor could have walked her without throwing ANY pitches, if they wanted to:
Just have the pitcher take the Plate with hands-together, 4 times, in succession... lol

I know in USSSA that if you intentionally do that a ball is not awarded to the batter.

It is illegal to use one rule to try and circumvent another rule. Yes, the rule is if the catcher does not return the ball directly to the pitcher with no runners on base a ball is to be added to the batters count. But, in order to intentionally walk a batter the pitcher must throw 4 pitches which would make it illegal to try and do it with only 2 pitches by throwing to another fielder other than the pitcher twice. Just as it is illegal to try and time out by not throwing a pitch at all and having balls added to the batters count for exceeding the time limit. Not sure exactly what the final penalty is in NCAA but in USA and NFHS if after warning the coach they do it again you have some ejections coming. The umpires did go warn the coach not to do it again and while he did appear to argue some they did return the ball directly to the pitcher after that.

Intentional walks are the cowards way out. If she is going to hit make her hit a really bad pitch. Grow a set and pitch to her!

During the first round of playoffs I saw the one thing that we all dream about as a hitter. First round of playoffs: Extra innings and the home team is down by 1. Tying runner on base. Scary hitter in the box. Hit 15 HR's this season. Been Intl Walked many times this season. The catcher squats in the Lefty batter's box, and the first pitch that was delivered was a ball. I can already see this team has not practiced the art of the IW. 2nd pitch, missed her spot and the girl jacked it 240 ft!!!! Yes that happened. Dayum!!! Walk off, game winner. Move on to the next round of playoffs.

Sidenote: That same girl and my DD got to catch Keilani Ricketts during a photo shoot 2 years ago when she was in town playing for the USSSA Pride.

Warn the offender and eject on the second offense.

Why not just hit the batter :-/

Crabby_Bob said:

Warn the offender and eject on the second offense.

Why not just hit the batter :-/

Click to expand...

Daughters high school assistant coach always used to say, why throw 4 when you only need to throw 1.

Comp said:

Daughters high school assistant coach always used to say, why throw 4 when you only need to throw 1.

Click to expand...

That was Don Drysdale's credo...

“Once, the manager came out to the mound and instructed me to walk a batter,” Dodgers Hall of Fame right-hander Don Drysdale once said. “I wound up hitting him instead. Why waste four pitches when one will do?”

Crabby_Bob said:

Warn the offender and eject on the second offense.

Click to expand...

Yes, however I was surprised the umpire awarded the extra ball since it was obviously intentional (see Effect exception below). I was also surprised Baylor tried this again since they should know better after the stink of them getting away with it in the 2014 Super with GA.

EFFECT—The ball is dead, and base runners may not advance. A ball shall be awarded to the batter.
In addition, on the first offense, the offending player shall be warned. On subsequent offenses, the offender shall be ejected from the game. (Behavioral ejection; see Rule 13.2.1.) Exception: Intentionally violating the rule in order to walk the batter without pitching shall not result in a ball being awarded to the batter.