I was chatting with one of the rec league coaches before a game today, and he brought up a scenario from Monday's game (not mine) that I'd never heard of. Bases were loaded in a co-ed slow-pitch ASA game. The pitcher delivered a pitch to a male batter, and, for whatever reason, the umpire declared the pitch illegal. The PU then awarded all runners one base, and a ball on the batter (this was not Ball 4). The defensive coach (and the offensive coach, too!) both asked, "uhhh... why?" The PU explained that this was similar to a balk, and that this only applied to male batters.
I only call ASA now, and I told the coach that there is no such rule in co-ed slow-pitch in ASA. Obviously, the umpire was mistaken. However, has anyone ever heard of such a rule? The PU also calls NSA, high school fast-pitch and, I believe, NCAA softball, so maybe he was simply confused.
And people wonder why I only want to call one rule book.
