[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I umpire in a girls' fastpitch league Fall League. The age groups are 10U, 12U, and 14U. The league uses ASA rules EXCEPT: A girl who is eligible to play for 10U team can play for a 12U team. If the player is a pitcher, her coach has the option of letting her pitch either from the 40 foot pitcher's plate using the larger ball, or her coach can have her pitch from 35 feet using the 11 inch ball instead of the 12 inch ball.

The first three Sundays went well becuase we did not have any 10U pitchers playing for a 12U team, but today it happened. The girl was as tall as any of the 12U pitchers my partner had seen on previous Sundays and was definitely one of the better pitchers in the league, but her coach took advantage of the 35 foot option and the parents of the opposing team let my partner and I they were not happy with us for letting her pitch from 35 feet.

My personal opinion is that if the girl is good enough to play 12U and she should pitch from 40 feet with the 12 inch ball.

Okay, I have vented. Let the comments begin.

MTD, Sr.