Illegal pitch/delay dead ball

[Gleighty]

There were no runners on, so I am assuming it was an illegal pitch. No deception intended. The pitcher's started, stopped, then started delivery. Umpire indicated illegal pitch with a dead ball signal and verbal call. Pitcher deliver the pitch that was hit and batter/runner reached first base. Umpire let the play stand. I felt this was the correct call. Coaches of the defensive team argued that it was dead because of the dead ball signal and the play went against them.

[frozenrope22]

I understand the ruling if the umpire just gave a delayed dead ball signal. ( Which I don't know what that looks like) But in the second post it was mentioned the umpire gave a verbal call. What was the verbal call? Wouldn't that change the situation if he yelled out "Dead Ball".

[rbmartin]

According to OBR 8.05(e) an illegal pitch is also balk.

PENALTY: The ball is dead, and each runner shall advance one base without liability to be put out, unless the batter reaches first on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter, or otherwise, and all other runners advance at least one base, in which case the play proceeds without reference to the balk.

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by Gleighty

There were no runners on, so I am assuming it was an illegal pitch. No deception intended. The pitcher's started, stopped, then started delivery. Umpire indicated illegal pitch with a dead ball signal and verbal call. Pitcher deliver the pitch that was hit and batter/runner reached first base. Umpire let the play stand. I felt this was the correct call. Coaches of the defensive team argued that it was dead because of the dead ball signal and the play went against them.

I don't know USSSA but in Little League this would not be an illegal pitch because there are no runners on.

In Little League, if it were an illegal pitch such as a quick pitch with no runners on, the ruling would be as the umpire did.

It's just that starting, stopping and starting again, would not be an illegal pitch.

Rita