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I've been hit by untouched pitches before. But how do you know 100% for sure if something like this is "accidental" or "on purpose"?
Had one last weekend in a 16U tournament game.
Ball comes in high and inside. I hold my ground in the slot- no flinch at all- as the catcher's were skilled and adept at catching about any pitch.
I'm focused on the pitch and couldn't tell you for sure what the catcher- or her mitt- did as the ball got to the plate. All I know is that about the instant that a catcher's mitt should have been popping up and into my view...there was nothing.
Straight through pitch, about 57 mph, untouched by F2, catches me right square in the left pec.
Luckily, I had worn by Platinum West Vest that day. I felt impact, but the pitch bounced off with a loud "thunk!" and there was no damage or even a bruise. It was one of those that illicited "oohs and aahhs" from the spectators, but the "bark" was worse that the "bite".
Now, the inning before, that team's coach had started in on me a little about balls and strikes. I had quickly told him where the pitch was, then shut him down with, "We will not be discussing balls and strikes".
Was this toss an inning later a "retaliation"? Was it by design? Did the catcher get crossed-up or did one just get away?
The thought that it was on purpose didn't really hit me at first. All I said to the catcher was, "Catch, you have a mitt and I don't. I'd appreciate it if you'd use it". After pausing about 15 seconds to make sure all my pieces were still in place- the game continued without incident.
Until my (not so) helpful partner stepped in.
Between innings, as the "problem" coach took his spot in the first base box, my partner decides to get on him about the cacther "not moving her mitt" on the pitch that got me. The coach takes that as an accusation that it was on purpose. The coach and my partner start getting into it hot and heavy down by first base!
I have to go down and break it up. They're really going at it, so I have to quiet them both down. Once I got their attention, I told them. "Look, this isn't the first time I've been hit by a pitch and it won't be the last. It happens. Let's forget about it and move on!".
And we did. There weren't any problems for the rest of the game.
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