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A few years ago I sent an e-mail to the NFHS rules interpreter for Texas and asked the following four questions. At the end are his answers.
" Foreign Substance Concerns
A. The defensive player (1st baseman) uses resin to dry her hands but does not wipe her hands off prior to the pitcher’s delivery of the pitch to the batter. Naturally the batter hits the ball to the 1st baseman. Is this an illegal pitch?
B. The pitcher uses resin to dry her hands but does not wipe her hands off prior to contact with the ball, prior to delivery of the pitch. The coach’s excuse is that the purpose of the resin is to dry the hands, why wipe the hands off on a wet uniform?
C. The pitcher or any other defensive player takes the new ball and rubs into the ground to remove the gloss from the ball. This was done while waiting for the next batter. Does this constitute an illegal pitch?
D. The pitcher or any other defensive player takes the ground dirt into her hand / glove and rubs the dirt onto the new ball to remove the gloss from the ball. This was done while waiting for the next batter. Does this constitute an illegal pitch?
ANSWERS:
A. No
B. Do not read something into the rule. She can put it on her hands under the supervision of an umpire. Rule doesn't say she has to wipe her hands.
C. No. Take the ball and rub it yourself or give them another ball. The rule covers putting something onto the ball.
D. Yes, because the dirt was rubbed onto the ball. "
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