PITCHING
QUESTION: In high school baseball only, pitcher is in windup position prior to delivery as runner on third base breaks to steal home. Pitcher instantly steps forward off pitching plate and throws to catcher who tags runner for an apparent out. Legal play or balk?
ANSWER: Dead ball, balk is called. When in pitching position, pitcher must initially step backward off pitching rubber with pivot foot in order to make a legal play on runner. Runner is awarded home on balk call but batter does not gain a ball in the count due to dead ball. (Rule 6, Sec. 1, Art. 2 & 3, Pen.)
This does not apply in softball because runners may not take lead until pitcher releases the pitch.
QUESTION: In high school softball, when assuming the pitching position, pitcher steps on pitching plate with hands together. Legal action?
ANSWER: Pitcher’s hands must be separated prior to stepping on pitching plate. Once pitcher contacts plate, pitcher takes signal from catcher with ball in one hand (glove hand or pitching hand) and hands apart. If hands are together prior to contact with plate, an immediate illegal pitch is called. Ball is dead; runners on base advance one base and batter is awarded a ball in count. (Rule 6, Sec. 1, Art. 1 a, b ).