...and another balk question

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by brumey1107
I’m hoping to have some input on yet another question surrounding balks.

Situation is Pony Baseball, 13 - 14 yo's playing under OBR's. OBR 8.01 (b) states "From such Set Position he may deliver the ball to the batter, throw to a base or step backward off the pitcher's plate with his pivot foot."

Question surrounds the word "may". Doesn't say "must". Specifically, MUST the pitcher have to step BACKWARDS off the pitcher's plate to become a fielder? Can a pitcher first move his pivot foot towards 3rd or towards 1st to disengage from the pitchers plate and become a fielder - as long as he doesn't go forward (toward home plate)?

If he MUST is there another OBR rule that supports it? If so please provide it.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

F1 cannot move the pivot foot to third or first to become an infielder. (He can move the pivot foot toward third as part of a "jab step" move to first -- but he's still on the rubber and must throw the ball.)

The "may" is used to indicate that thepitcher has other options -- request time, wait for curfew to set in, commit a balk, ...

The rules are written by gentlemen, for gentlemen; not by lawyers for lawyers.