BALK / ILLEGAL PITCH
QUESTION: In high school baseball only, runner on first base; pitcher commits a balk but continues to pitch ball to batter who hits ball over fence for home run. Is the ball live or dead during this play? If dead, does the batter gain a ball in the count and runner is awarded second base?
ANSWER: Dead ball; runner advances one base to second and batter remains at bat without any change in count. Home run is nullified due to immediate dead ball. ( BB- Rule 5, Sec. 1, Art. 1,k and Rule 6-2-4).
QUESTION: In high school softball only, runners on third and second; two outs; count on batter is three balls and two strikes; pitcher delivers an illegal pitch, called by base umpire. Batter swings and misses for strike three. Three outs.
Does play stand, three outs, batter retired? Is coach given option to have a do over play with three ball, two strike count? Is there a penalty for an illegal pitch?
ANSWER: During an illegal pitch play, the ball is delayed dead allowing the offense an opportunity to take advantage of the infraction. Since the batter struck out, the offensive coach is given an option as follows: accept the play or penalty. In this instance, the offense will agree to gain the advantage of the penalty. Strike three is ignored, batter gains a ball in count ( ball four), advances to first base and runners also advance one base; hence, runner from third scores and runner from second goes to third.
The rules do not permit an entire do over in this situation. (SB- Rule 6, Sec. 1, Art. 2-4, penalty).