Question on Pitching

[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by Gemini [/i]

14 and under Fed baseball game. Pitcher off the rubber, strecthes, makes move to home, then throws to first. Runner is nailed because of the fake. PU calls balk, and I the BU agree. Coaches, pitcher and dad go crazy. I'm using Rule 6-2-5.

Is there something else hear I don't know about?

When in doubt go to the FED case book

FED case book play 6.2.5A

With R1, F1, in the stretch position, steps quickly backward off the pitcher's plate and with a motion much like his pitching delivery throws to the plate where (a) B1 hits the throw or (b) R1 is thrown out stealing by F2 on a pitchout.

RULING : In both (a) and (b) it is a balk. F1 while NOT TOUCHING the pitcher's plate, shall not make any movement naturally associated with the pitch.

Your scenario is similar to the above case Play.

My only question would be; Why was R1 off the first base bag to begin with when F1 is not TOUCHING the plate? We all played the game and that was one of the first rules of baserunning that I learned.

Your balk call was correct, but somewhere it would be nice to have a rule that says "if a player makes a "bonehead" mistake then all bets off". As a base runner you should be on the bag until F1 contacts the rubber, then you take your lead.

Pete Booth