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Old Sun May 10, 2015, 08:00pm
k-blue k-blue is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 24
NFHS baseball has a rule that prevent the "Cat and Mouse" play as well.
Although I have seen many umpires mis-apply this rule and still call a "Balk" if the pitcher stops his delivery.

6-2-4 Balk. If there is a runner or runners, any of the following acts by a pitcher while he is touching the pitcher’s plate is a balk:

d. failing to pitch to the batter in a continuous motion immediately after any movement of any part of the body such as he habitually uses in his delivery;
1. If the pitcher, with a runner on base, stops or hesitates in his delivery because the batter steps out of the box (a) with one foot or (b) with both feet or (c) holds up his hand to request “Time,” it shall not be a balk. In (a) and (c), there is no penalty on either the batter or the pitcher. The umpire shall call “Time” and begin play anew. In (b), a strike shall be called on the batter for violation of 7-3-1. In (a), (b) and (c), if the pitcher legally delivers the ball, it shall be called a strike and the ball remains live.
Thus, two strikes are called on the batter in (b). If the umpire judges the batter’s action to be a deliberate attempt to create a balk, he will penalize according to 3-3-1n.

On two occasions, I have called two strikes on the batter on the first pitch. Had to send a coach to the bus the first time.
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